The Knesset Education, Culture and Sports Committee ends without a vote to send the controversial “West Bank and Gaza” antiquities bill, which many say amounts to de facto annexation, to the plenum for its final approval.My interest is in ancient Judaism rather than Israeli or other politics, so I try to stay out of these things. But for those interested, these articles fill out the current picture:[...]
Government approves NIS 250M plan to develop heritage sites in the West Bank (Rossella Tercatin, Times of Israel)
West Bank, Gaza antiquities bill advances as government okays $86 million heritage plan. Knesset committee working to finish controversial legislation, which critics say would mark an unprecedented step toward annexation, for final votes in the plenum on Sunday (Rossella Tercatin, Times of Israel).
The bill aims to establish a “Judea, Samaria and Gaza Heritage Authority” under the Heritage Ministry. The body is also set to have the power to operate in parts of the West Bank governed by the Palestinian Authority (Areas A and B).'De Facto Annexation' Despite Professional Opposition, MKs Propose West Bank Antiquities Authority Operate in Gaza. The army's representative told the Knesset Education Committee meeting that applying the law to Gaza 'could be perceived as characteristics of de facto annexation.' She added that the plan is not 'consistent' with the Trump plan for the Gaza Strip's rehabilitation (Noa Shpigel, Haaretz). Most of this article is behind a subscription wall.
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