Will UNESCO’s heritage listing halt Israeli plans for West Bank’s Sebastia?

Sebastia, a 3,000-year-old site, faces threats as Israel intensifies plans for land seizures and settlement expansions.Palestinian officials have welcomed UNESCO’s decision to add Sebastia in the occupied West Bank to both the World Heritage list and its list of World Heritage in danger in the hope that it will prevent Israel from extending its control over the Palestinian village and its archaeological site. Israel, meanwhile, has denounced the decision and described it as political.Nizar Kayed, deputy mayor of Sebastia, explained in comments to the Reuters news agency that he hoped the decision would help preserve its ancient city.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3How Israel uses settler-soldier terror to colonise the West Banklist 2 of 3What is happening in the Occupied West Bank?list 3 of 3UNESCO places occupied West Bank, Lebanon sites on endangered heritage listend of list“This decision came after the confiscation order issued by the Israeli occupation authorities, which destroys this area from a cultural and historical standpoint and also destroys people’s livelihoods. It is part of the settlement expansion project in this area,” Kayed said.Olive trees surround t...