Theft of Century Occurred in Occupied Palestine, Not Louvre
According to Al-Quds Al-Arabi, international and Arab media continue to report on the aftermath of the theft of the Louvre Museum in Paris that occurred on October 19, while at the same time ignoring the largest antiquities theft operation in the occupied West Bank and al-Quds.
To demonstrate the ongoing theft of antiquities in the West Bank, Walid Habbas, a researcher specializing in Israeli affairs, points to 60 decisions issued by the Israeli Civil Administration between 2013 and the summer of 2025.
He argues that these decisions all legitimize the theft and looting of Palestinian antiquities. Official Israeli sources have published these 60 orders, indicating that they were issued between 2013 and 2025.
They also published an interactive map in the summer of 2025 that identifies the locations associated with these orders.
Habbas, speaking to Al-Quds Al-Arabi, notes that archaeological excavations over the past five years represent an unprecedented peak. He emphasizes that while the world’s attention is focused on the theft at the Louvre Museum in France (which houses antiquities stolen by France from around the world), the biggest theft (the theft of the century) is what is happening in the West Bank and al-Quds.
He says that many institutions are involved in this great theft. First, the Israeli Civil Administration; second, all the universities of the Israeli regime through their departments of history and archaeology; third, evangelical and Bible foundations and associations around the world; and finally, some infiltrating Palestinian looters.
On the Israeli Civil Administration’s “Antiquities Officer” YouTube channel, one can follow the proceedings of the first archaeological conference specifically dedicated to the West Bank. The conference featured dozens of lectures that addressed excavations, thefts, and research collaborations between Israeli universities in various locations.
A booklet published by the administration also lists 63 sites in the occupied West Bank as Israeli historical and archaeological sites, including 59 in Nablus Governorate, three in Ramallah Governorate, and one in Salfit Governorate.
Saleh Tawafsheh, the Palestinian deputy minister of tourism and antiquities, believes that the Israeli occupation is a systematic attack on the Palestinian national heritage.
“Israel is doing this while it has taken control of this heritage in all its aspects,” he says. “All Palestinian areas in the West Bank are under attack through raids, confiscations, theft, and illegal excavations.”
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In an interview with Al-Quds Al-Arabi, Tawafsheh stressed that the occupation’s policies are destroying Palestinian antiquities, which are a testament to the historical rights of the Palestinian people. He added that the widespread looting of ancient sites by the occupation authorities, along with Judaization efforts in al-Quds and Hebron (al-Khalil), is preventing the intervention of teams from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to protect this heritage.
On October 27, the Israeli regime approved another 40 million shekels in funding to strengthen Judaization projects at ancient sites in various parts of the West Bank. The funding is part of what the government described in its statement as a “long-term rescue plan” that begins in 2023. The new decision includes dozens of ancient sites in the northern and southern West Bank and the Jordan Valley that Israeli authorities claim are linked to ancient Jewish history.
According to the regime’s decision, the funds will be distributed over the years 2025 and 2026 and will be collected from several Israeli ministries, including education, culture, environment, transportation, justice and the ministry of war, in addition to funds allocated for tourism and historical projects in settlements built on Palestinian land.
The program includes investments in sites such as Sebastia north of Nablus, which the occupation authorities claim was the “capital of the ancient kingdom of Israel,” the Hasmonean palaces in Jericho, the Hyrcania fortress in the Hebron desert and Tel Hebron, in addition to sites in the Jordan Valley.
Israeli heritage minister Amichai Eliyahu had previously announced that his ministry would not wait for the formal exercise of sovereignty over the West Bank, which would mark an expansion of Israeli activities in the area without any legal basis.
He claimed that the strengthening and development of heritage sites in “Judea and Samaria” does not depend on the decisions of foreign parliaments. He added that “every day of delay means the loss of more of our heritage”.
It is worth noting that UNESCO has placed Sebastia and Jericho on its World Heritage List, while the occupiers have been trying to Judaize these sites for years under the pretext of “preserving Jewish heritage,” as part of a broader policy to impose occupation and change the historical Palestinian identity of the region.
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Regarding Israel’s decisions, Tawafsheh stated that the huge budgets are part of the process of seizing these sites, and emphasized that the settlers are the ones who are carrying out this campaign to plunder the heritage that testifies to the right of our people to this land.
“Of the 326 archaeological sites and monuments in the West Bank, the occupiers have completely or partially destroyed between 216 and 220 sites.”
Regarding the specific targeting of Nablus, Tawafsheh said the Israeli Knesset discussed the annexation of all archaeological sites located in Area C, which are approximately 3753 sites.
Some of these sites are located in the Nablus governorate, and it seems that there is a plan by the settlers and the occupying government to annex them to the institutions of the occupying government.
This is just a glimpse of what the Zionist regime is planning, but the larger plan includes all archaeological sites in Area C. He added that about two weeks ago, for the first time, the occupying regime allowed high school students to earn university credits by participating in the excavation and theft of antiquities in the West Bank.
Regarding the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism’s efforts to protect Palestinian rights, Tawafsheh stated that the Palestinian authorities are in contact with international organizations, archaeological councils and influential figures around the world.
He said they are working on a national plan, both domestically and internationally through Palestinian diplomacy, to expose the actions of the occupiers in the area.
All acts of sabotage and attacks carried out by Israel are reported to UNESCO, he noted.
He concluded by saying that UNESCO lacks a firm stance. “They have not issued strong statements and most of them have been timid. We call for a stronger role from international institutions to put pressure on the occupiers to stop these attacks.”
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