The excavations aim to create a “tourist settlement” in a densely populated Palestinian area in the northern West Bank, with tens of millions of shekels invested
On May 11, 2025, the Civil Administration, through its Staff Officer for Archaeology (which is comparable to the Israel Antiquities Authority within the Green Line), announced the commencement of archaeological excavations at the ancient site of Sebastia (Tel Shomron). This site is located within the Palestinian village of Sebastia, west of Nablus.
The current excavations are part of an Israeli government initiative to transform the Sebastia archaeological park into a tourist attraction, primarily aimed at the Israeli public and settlers. In May 2023, the Israeli government allocated 32 million shekels from the state budget for the years 2023 to 2025 for this purpose.
The Sebastia site is currently open to the public and serves as a Palestinian tourist center. Visitors can access the site through the village of Sebastia, which is located in Area B. Before October 7, 2023, tens of thousands of people—many of whom are Palestinians from various parts of the West Bank—visited this site.
The funds allocated for developing the site greatly exceed the cost of the archaeological dig. Additionally, the government plans to pave a direct access road to the site and establish a visitor reception center there.
Israel’s decision to invest tens of millions of shekels in Sebastia is part of a larger government initiative to promote tourism-oriented settlements in the West Bank. Since the general Israeli public rarely visits these areas, the presence of the Civil Administration’s Nature Reserves Officer—analogous to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority within the Green Line—primarily seeks to strengthen Israeli control in the northern West Bank.
The tourist settlement initiative in Sebastia aligns with the government’s decision to resettle the nearby outpost of Homesh. Israel is expanding its presence in a densely populated area of the West Bank, specifically on the outskirts of Nablus, alongside the settlement of Shavei Shomron.
Peace Now: “Over the past two years, we have observed various methods by which settlers are reinforcing an Israeli presence throughout the West Bank. Alongside the establishment of numerous outposts and the expansion of existing settlements, Israel is investing tens of millions of shekels in tourist sites that Israelis rarely visit. The government’s focus is not on promoting tourism or preserving heritage, but on further diminishing the Palestinian presence in the West Bank. The excavations in Sebastia will not benefit the economy for either side; instead, they will only fuel animosity and sustain the ongoing conflict.”