Palestinians hold vigil against Israel’s attempts to take over lands in Sebastia village

Nablus (QNN)- Palestinian activists held a vigil today at an archeological building in the village of Sebastia in Nablus in the occupied West Bank to protect it against attempts by colonial Israeli settlers to take it over.

#Palestinian activists hold a vigil at an archeological building in the occupied West Bank village of Sebastia to protect it against attempts by colonial Israeli settlers to take it over, today. pic.twitter.com/D5mwGx5EkR

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) March 29, 2021

Mohammad al-Azem, head of the Sebastia municipality, told QNN that Israeli occupation authorities are planning to open a police center in the archeological building in the village of Sebastia, as a prelude to take over the land.

Al-Azem added that Israel’s archeological activities in Palestinian territory aim to extend the policy of dispossessing Palestinians of their lands and cultural assets.

Al-Azem stressed that indigenous of Sebastia will not allow the Israeli occupation to one day steal their heritage and will confront every attempt to take over the lands.

Sebastia is an ancient town dating back 3,000 years. It extends over 5,000 dunums [1,235 acres] and is inhabited by 3,500 people. Herod the Great named the city Sebaste — meaning Augustus — in honor of Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar in 27 B.C.

The city, famous for its dozens of Roman archaeological pieces and sites, continuously faces attacks by Israeli settlers and the Israeli forces, who have their eyes set on its archaeological sites.

In November 2020, Israeli occupation authorities threatened to forcibly remove the 17-meter (56-feet) long Palestinian flagpole erected near the antiquities plaza in the village of Sebastia.

The plaza itself is located in Area B of the West Bank, which is under Palestinian civil control and Israeli military control. ‘Israel’ claims the flagpole provokes the settlers.

In the past years, ‘Israel’ has taken many illegal steps targeting Palestinian heritage sites.

Meanwhile, Israeli settlers set up a tent on Palestinian-owned land in the town of Taqou’ to the east of Bethlehem for the benefit of establishing a new settlement outpost there, which would prevent Palestinian land owners access to their lands.

There are nearly 700,000 Israeli settlers living in 256 illegal settlements and outposts scattered across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.