Israel accused of weaponising archaeology at ancient West Bank sites

Image source, ReutersBySebastian Usher, Global affairs correspondent, Reporting fromSebastia, occupied West Bank and Callum Tulley, Reporting fromSebastia, occupied West BankUp in the hills above the Roman columns of the ancient site of Sebastia, in the occupied West Bank, are olive fields that have been cultivated for generations by Palestinian families.One of the landowners, Abu Mudif, says he has received notification that his land is part of a tranche of about 450 acres that the Israeli authorities are taking possession of in order, they say, to protect and develop the site for a major new national park.Typically, Palestinian landowners receive little or no payment for such land expropriation. And even when it is offered, most refuse it as they see accepting it as giving recognition and legitimacy to the loss of what they see as their patrimony.It's a vital income for Abu Mudif to lose of course, but it goes deeper than that for him.Image caption, Abu Mudif says his land is part of a tranche of about 450 acres being expropriated by Israeli authorities"If I wanted to describe it, the closest description I can give is that it is like having your soul ripped away. I cannot imagine...