After months of restoration, Palestinian Authority officials gathered recently in the town of Dura, south of Hebron, to celebrate the reopening of one of the West Bank’s largest antiquities museums.
PA officials who attended the event celebrated the completion of the museum’s renovation, highlighting its role in preserving cultural heritage. With updated exhibits and new artifacts, the Dura museum is part of the ongoing efforts by Palestinian authorities to promote heritage sites across the West Bank, with the aim of protecting – and projecting – the Palestinian narrative.
At the opening event, Hani Hayek, the PA minister of tourism and antiquities, stressed the “importance of safeguarding Palestinian archaeological sites to ensure that the legacy of the past is kept alive and passed on through generations.
“Museums are one of the most central tools for maintaining our national history,” he said. “The items and displays document our heritage. It’s important that people come to see the meaning of our national identity, and we will focus on that issue.”
Behind speeches about preservation and heritage lies a deeper struggle over ownership of the past. As Israeli authorities expand enforcement powers in parts of the West Bank, and the war reshapes Gaza’s landscape, Palestinian officials are accelerating efforts to document, restore, and internationalize their cultural sites. The fight over antiquities is no longer confined to archaeologists and curators; it has become another front in a wider political conflict.
Strengthening identity
Khaled Dudin, the governor of Hebron, addressed the issue directly, calling Israel’s historical ties a “fabricated narrative,” while “the Palestinian narrative is rooted in the history of Palestine.”
Other honored guests emphasized that collections and displays of archaeological and cultural items in museums are especially significant at this time, as they “help tell the Palestinian story,” adding that the goal is to “share knowledge about the culture in order to strengthen the identity of the Palestinian people.”
Maintenance and renovation works were also carried out recently at other sites and museums, such as the Khan al-Bireh Center for Cultural Heritage in Ramallah, and at the ancient site Sebastia in the northern West Bank, the PA’s Tourism and Antiquities Ministry announced recently.
According to ministry data, some 69 excavations were conducted in different areas across the West Bank over the past year, and the initial procedures of documentation, recording, and cataloging were completed at several archaeological sites.
World heritage recognition
The governor of Nablus, Ghassan Douglas, confirmed to The Jerusalem Report that the PA is making efforts to preserve and develop historical, archaeological, and heritage assets. He said that procedures are underway to prepare the Sebastia file to be included on UNESCO’s list of sites nominated for World Heritage recognition.
“UNESCO [the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization] is responsible for preserving places of heritage value. Every state has its own things to be proud of,” Douglas said. “And we who live in this geographical spot here in Palestine have the right to protect our culture.”
Last month, the PA, together with the Palestinian delegation to UNESCO, added 14 new sites to the tentative list of World Heritage Sites, a move described by the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry as “strategic and aimed at enhancing the presence of Palestinian heritage and protecting it from threats.”
Since 2012, several sites have been inscribed as World Heritage Sites. Among them are the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem; Battir village, known for its ancient agricultural terraces and traditional irrigation system; the Old City of Hebron, including the Cave of the Patriarchs; and recently, Tel Jericho (Tell es-Sultan).
The Ramallah-based Tourism and Antiquities Ministry is also pushing for sites in the Gaza Strip, such as the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza City, parts of which were damaged during the recent war, to be added to the list for registration as a World Heritage Site.
It has also launched initiatives to map the damage caused to a further estimated 226 heritage and historic sites in the Gaza Strip. The ministry said that 13 experts participated in the mapping project, which was supported by an international team and used satellite images. They say that some 26 million euros is needed to restore the cultural heritage sector in Gaza.
UNESCO accepted the PA as a member in 2011. Since joining the organization, its representatives have worked to secure formal recognition for sites in the West Bank as part of a diplomatic campaign against Israel. This endeavor is seen by Palestinians not only as a matter of archaeology or culture but mainly as a tool in their struggle to confront the “occupation.”
Response to Israel
Douglas said that Palestinians are concerned by recent decisions made by the Israeli government to expand its authority in the West Bank. “It could push them [the Israelis] to target sites that have historical and cultural importance to us,” he noted.
Israel’s security cabinet recently approved the expansion of supervision and enforcement measures in Palestinian-controlled areas, designated A and B, in the West Bank.
“The implementation of this could involve attempts to gain control of heritage places that we seek to explore and protect,” the Nablus governor said.
Despite the economic crisis the PA is facing, he added that he and his colleagues will find ways and resources to continue safeguarding Palestinian heritage. “The world needs to intervene and support us from steps that might assault our history,” he stated.
According to the decision approved by the Israeli cabinet, building licensing, construction, management, oversight, and other powers are said to be transferred from some Palestinian municipalities such as Hebron and Bethlehem to the civil administration of the IDF.
The announcement has drawn strong condemnation from the mayor of Bethlehem, Maher Canawati.
“The Israeli decision aims to annex the area of Bilal bin Rabah [mosque], known as Rachel’s Tomb, and its surroundings,” he said in a video. “This represents a dangerous escalation, imposing new reality on the ground. It is an attack on the city’s religious, cultural, and national identity.”
Internal struggles
An indication of how strongly Palestinians value antiquities and archaeological sites is the regular patrols they conduct to ensure that these places are not damaged or at risk.
Police officers from the unit designated to monitor heritage sites have been dispatched over the past month to inspect several spots in the Nablus district and ensure that no unauthorized activity has occurred.
In another patrol, following suspicions of vandalism of an ancient mosque in Balata, the police, alongside a team from the PA security forces, investigated whether illegal excavations had taken place at the abandoned compound.
The PA was rocked recently by a major corruption scandal involving serious crimes linked to Nazmi Mhanna, the former general manager of the General Authority for Crossings and Borders. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of large-scale money laundering, receiving personal benefits and abusing his position.
According to Palestinian sources, the scandal was also said to involve the smuggling of valuable antiquities.
“I believe this is the biggest corruption affair we’ve ever seen,” a Palestinian source told The Jerusalem Report. However, the court’s verdict and official statements from Ramallah made no reference to the alleged trafficking of antiquities.
As well as fighting to preserve their physical landmarks, protecting Palestinian heritage also extends to traditional crafts such as embroidery, the Dabke folk dance, palm cultivation, and the production of Nablus soap.
The goal is to keep cultural identity alive among younger generations and promote awareness about their heritage, while also deriving the added benefit of attracting local and international tourists.■