The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates warned today of an Israeli plan to take over Palestinian archaeological sites, and called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to assume its responsibilities in this regard. In a press statement, the Foreign Ministry condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli raid last night into the archeological town of Sebastia, saying the Israeli military and settler militias are aiming to take control of the Roman-era archeological site in the town. ‘This is an attack that falls within a plan to control Palestinian archaeological sites throughout the West Bank and to impose Israeli control over them and annex them, as stated in the Hebrew media, which confirmed that the Israeli government is about to allocate hundreds of millions of shekels for this purpose,’ said the Foreign Ministry. The Ministry pointed out that the implementation of this plan is part of Israel’s declared and undeclared gradual annexation of the occupied West Bank, calling on the international community and UNESCO in particular to assume their responsibilities in protecting Palestinian archaeological and heritage sites.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA