Palestinian Authority construction is systematically destroying an important archaeological site in western Samaria, in the area designated as Area C by the Oslo Accords and within Israeli sovereignty. In the meantime, the local authorities in charge of the area refrain from enforcing the law to protect the site.

In recent days,  Palestinian construction destroyed the ruins of Amir, located in the area of ​​Kiryat Netafim and the village of Karwat Bnei Hassan. This is a site from the Second Temple period that includes some finds that have not yet been explored. Among other things, there is a grave estate called Deir A-Darb, whose owners, according to the researchers' assessment, were among the social elite of the Kingdom of Judah. A number of other buildings and ancient artifacts surrounding the graves are also being destroyed.

בעקבות חשיפת שומרים על הנצח לפני כחודשיים על הרס החומה ההרודיאנית בשומרון העתיקה, פעל אמש המנהל האזרחי להסיר מבנים במקום.
שאפו לקמ"ט ארכיאולוגיה. פעולה מבורכת*.
* יש למנוע מראש כל הקמה של מבנה>> pic.twitter.com/FtKruy0bGS

— שומרים על הנצח (@ShomrimNetzach) May 23, 2023

Since 2007, massive Palestinian development has been taking place in what they call the “Polygon”, a neighborhood that includes houses and roads built on top of the archaeological site, and in recent days new roads are being built in the center of the site in preparation for housing infrastructure. The findings and remains at the site are destroyed and have disappeared completely as part of the Palestinian development. Among other things, it has been documented how the Palestinians built terraces, using the ancient stones from the site, building foundations for new buildings nearby and on remains, and building an entire neighborhood on top of the site.

“The site is in an advanced process of destruction, and will soon cease to exist as an antiquities site. Enforcement in the area is non-existent, and if the situation continues, the site will cease to exist," reads a severe report by a coalition of organizations for the protection, preservation, and development of heritage sites in Judea and Samaria called the "Keepers of Eternity". Recently, the Archeology Committee of the Civil Administration for Judea and Samaria requested to act on the spot and enforce the law, but unusually the IDF prohibited activity at the site, which is located west of the Palestinian village of Karwat Bnei Hassan.

"The village sits in an archeological space rich in the concentration of sites in it. The sites around the village are suffering from heavy destruction and extermination directed by the municipality of the village,"  Keepers of the Eternity added in their report. "The IDF does not take control of the incident, does not understand the seriousness of the situation, and does not enforce it, while sites that are thousands of years old are completely erased.

Jerusalem Post: settler council ID's antiquities thieves at Samaria
Wafa: municipality of Sebastia (ancient Samaria) discovers graves during road construction, alerts Ministry, but Israeli authorities move in & detain workers.https://t.co/9OSb0CcC7ahttps://t.co/rB6K2IefYB

— Michael Press (@MichaelDPress) January 30, 2023

An Israel Defense Forces spokesman said in response to the accusations that the IDF is not stopping the construction: "The allegations are familiar. Enforcement will be carried out in accordance with the assessment of the situation and operational considerations."