The Palestinian Authority condemned Israel’s decision to expropriate land near the Nabi Samuel area north of Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank, warning that the move threatens Palestinian religious and historical heritage around the site associated with the Biblical prophet Samuel.
"This confiscation is part of a policy aimed at suffocating the mosque and completely isolating it from its Palestinian surroundings, turning it into a Jewish archaeological site by force of arms," the ministry said in a statement.
The site, known as Nabi Samuel, is believed in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim tradition to include the grave of the Biblical figure of prophet Samuel, and includes a mosque owned by Palestinian religious authorities, the Waqf.
"This marks the first time that the (Israeli) Civil Administration has expropriated a holy site owned by the Muslim Waqf in the occupied West Bank", Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now said in a statement.
According to the Israeli order, dated May 9 but published this week, the area for expropriation will include 109.79 dunams (roughly 11 hectares), including access roads, agricultural land, and a mosque.
