Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Tuesday an allocation of 113 million shekels, equivalent to $37 million, to take control of more than 70 historical sites across the occupied West Bank. This funding, approved by a government steering committee, is an expansion of an earlier 250 million shekel ($83 million) plan initiated in May to claim archaeological sites throughout the West Bank and Jordan Valley.

The committee stated that the Settlements Ministry will receive substantial direct funding and commitment authorizations from this new budget. The allocation arrives on the same day the Knesset’s Finance Committee separately approved nearly 300 million shekels (about $99 million) for the same ministry. This financial push aims to accelerate Israel's assertion of control over historical landmarks within the occupied territory.

Minister Smotrich described the initiative as "a Zionist act of the highest order," emphasizing the importance of heritage for a nation's future. He outlined plans for developing new visitor centers and research facilities at these designated Jewish heritage locations. This move is seen as a strategy to extend Israeli state control over Palestinian property and land.

Palestinian media have indicated that these plans may include taking over Solomon's Pools near Bethlehem, a site that Smotrich has previously expressed interest in bringing under Israeli administration. The occupied West Bank is home to numerous archaeological and heritage sites, some dating back centuries.

According to Smotrich's own figures, Israel has approved approximately 104 settlements and 160 outposts in the occupied West Bank since 2022. These settlements are widely considered illegal under international law. The increased funding for settlement expansion occurs amidst a reported surge in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, with Palestinian media documenting over 11,000 such attacks this year alone.

Analysts suggest that the intensified activity in settlement movements, coupled with increased funding, is part of an effort to further entrench Israeli control in the West Bank. This strategy is often viewed as a means to alter the demographic and territorial landscape of the region.

The Israeli government's actions are met with strong opposition from Palestinian officials and human rights organizations, who view these seizures as violations of international law and an obstruction to a potential two-state solution. The designation of sites as exclusively Jewish heritage also raises concerns about the erasure of Palestinian history and culture.

Further details regarding the specific heritage sites targeted and the timeline for their takeover remain to be fully disclosed, leaving unresolved questions about the precise impact on Palestinian communities and cultural heritage in the occupied West Bank.