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archaeology in the West Bank

Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu speaks at a conference on archaeology in the West Bank in Jerusalem on June 17, 2026. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel)
June 18, 2026, 10:05 am
West Bank archaeology conference unearths controversy as politics takes center stage
Jerusalem event attracts hundreds, including dozens of scholars, but many in the field stay away and international participation is down; attendee calls event ‘highly politicized’
By Rossella Tercatin
Minister of Heritage Amichay Eliyahu (left), in Jerusalem, on January 12, 2026; Esti Shreiber (right), who was tapped as the new head of the Israel Antiquities Authority on May 12, 2026. On May 27, 2026, close to 60 archaeologists petitioned the High Court of Justice to block her appointment. (Left: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90; Right: Flash photography)
May 29, 2026, 2:37 am
Archaeologists petition High Court to block appointment of new antiquities authority chief
Petition deepens rift between academics and Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu, who have been at loggerheads over a controversial West Bank and Gaza antiquities bill
By Rossella Tercatin
Archaeologists from Bar-Ilan University, in cooperation with the staff officer of archaeology, excavated the site of Sartaba/Alexandrium in the Jordan Valley in February 2025. (Yodan Flaytman, staff officer for archaeology in Judea and Samaria)
May 24, 2026, 7:09 pm
West Bank, Gaza antiquities bill breaks Israel’s international obligations – legal official
As Knesset committee gears up to bring legislation for final votes in plenum, panel’s legal adviser warns it reinforces ‘creeping annexation’ claims; army also opposes it
By Rossella Tercatin
Israelis visit the site of the ancient village of Sebastia near the West Bank city of Nablus, on April 22, 2019, during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. (Hillel Maeir/Flash90)
May 21, 2026, 3:02 am
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
By Rossella Tercatin
The archaeological site of Sebastia in the West Bank, in a handout photo issued on November 20, 2025. (COGAT)
May 19, 2026, 9:28 am
Knesset panel fast-tracks West Bank antiquities bill seen as de facto annexation
Legislation aims to create new civilian body beyond Green Line, as heritage minister pushes to appoint ideological ally with limited experience to run Israel Antiquities Authority
By Rossella Tercatin
View of the ancient archaeological site of Sebastia, near the West Bank city of Nablus, May 12, 2025. (Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90)
May 12, 2026, 1:59 am
Knesset advances controversial West Bank antiquity bill in first reading
Legislation’s critics maintain it amounts to de facto annexation, while supporters say it is necessary to preserve territory’s unique heritage
By Rossella Tercatin
Ilan Hadad from the Israel Antiquities Authority holds a silver shekel coin seized during an inspection at the Hizma Checkpoint north of Jerusalem in the West Bank on February 20, 2026. (Yoli Schwartz/Israel Antiquities Authority)
March 23, 2026, 3:43 pm
Ancient coins from Hasmonean kingdoms, Jewish revolts seized after suspected smuggling
Police say they found the artifacts last month as they inspected a vehicle belonging to a Palestinian doctor as he crossed the Hizma checkpoint north of Jerusalem into Israel
By Rossella Tercatin
Illustrative: Israeli security forces near the city of Tulkarem in the West Bank, on September 11, 2025. (Tal Gal/Flash90)
March 18, 2026, 1:26 pm
Cop, IDF troops enter West Bank village under PA control to seize ancient artifact
Police officer was friends with Ze’ev Erlich, who died in 2024 while examining an archaeological site in Lebanon; police were reportedly unaware of operation
By Rossella Tercatin
The archaeological site of Sebastia in the West Bank, in a handout photo issued on November 20, 2025. (COGAT)
December 31, 2025, 11:17 pm
New West Bank antiquity bill seeks to extend Israeli authority over Areas A and B
Proposed law, seeking to create a civilian body in charge of antiquities and archaeological sites, has been opposed by most Israeli archaeologists, likely violates international law
By Rossella Tercatin
A 1400-year-old limestone mold to craft flasks decorated with a cross and bearing the inscription ‘Lord’s blessing from the holy places’ was found at the site of Hyrcania in the Judean Desert in the West Bank. (Michal Haber/Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
December 25, 2025, 8:10 pm
Forget keychains, Byzantine pilgrims took home ‘souvenir’ flasks, newly found mold shows
Judean Desert finds dated 1,400 years ago bear witness to ‘flourishing Christian pilgrimage industry’ as travelers from around Roman Empire sought mementos of visits to Jesus-linked sites
By Rossella Tercatin
Tourists visit the archaeological site of Tel Shiloh in the West Bank, March 12, 2019. (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)
August 23, 2025, 7:07 am
Archaeologists dig in against antiquities bill aiming to deepen Israel’s hold on West Bank
A push to shift oversight of excavations in the territory to a civilian authority sparks worries of creeping annexation, with researchers fearing they’ll bear brunt of any backlash
By Rossella Tercatin
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