Israel Issues Expropriation Order for West Bank Religious Site
Palestinian officials said the takeover will expand Israeli control over a site they call part of a wider effort to erase Islamic heritage.
- On Tuesday, Israel's Civil Administration announced expropriation of 28 acres around Nabi Samuel mosque in the occupied West Bank, with an order dated May 9 covering roughly 110 dunams including access roads, agricultural land and the mosque compound.
- Since occupying the West Bank in 1967, Israel has incrementally expanded control over Nabi Samuel, converting it to a nature reserve in 1995 after demolishing a Palestinian village on the site.
- A COGAT source attributed the expropriation decision to Waqf officials' refusal to cooperate with renovation procedures, while Israel justified the seizure for public benefit and archaeological preservation of the Prophet Samuel's tomb.
- Palestinian officials condemned the move, with the Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs issuing strong condemnation, the Jerusalem Governorate warning of Judaization, and the Foreign Ministry calling it an extension of colonial war.
- Expert Khalil Toufakji characterized the expropriation as effective annexation and predicted Joseph's Tomb in Nablus under Palestinian Authority control would likely face similar seizure, following Israel's November seizure of 444 acres around Sebastia.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Israel has for the first time expropriated an Islamic sacred site in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israel removes prophet's tomb from Islamic waqf control
Israel issues expropriation order for Nabi Samuel archaeological and holy site north of Jerusalem, revered as the resting place of the biblical prophet Samuel. By World Israel News Staff Israel’s Civil Administration has removed control over the tomb of a biblical prophet from an Islamic trust (Waqf), placing the tomb under direct Israeli authority. The Civil Administration issued an expropriation order earlier this month for roughly 110 dunams …
Israel seizes land around historic Nabi Samuel Mosque in occupied West Bank
Israeli occupation authorities have issued an order to seize 109.79 dunams of land in the Nabi Samuel area north of Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank, including land surrounding the historic Nabi Samuel Mosque, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA. The order, issued by Israel’s Civil Administration on Tuesday, May 26, affects areas belonging to the Palestinian communities of Nabi Samuel and Beit Iksa. Israeli authorities said the move was…
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