Restrictions Land Confiscation on Use and Access Introduction 77 legislation originating from 1963,273 undergoing amendments and culminating in the current version: National Parks, Nature Reserves, National Sites and Memorial Sites Law – 1998. Under this legislation “national parks”, “nature reserves”, “national sites”, and “memorial sites” (for government and military) are areas that the Israeli Minister of the Interior declares to be so. The Municipality is also involved in the declaration of national parks. National Parks should be areas meant for "the public enjoyment of nature or for the preservation of areas of historic, archeological, or architectural importance."274 A ‘national site’ is described as a building, or group of buildings, including the surrounding areas, which are of a national, historical value and are valuable for the development of the land.275 The Israel Nature and Parks Authority is charged with the ‘protection’ of the sites catered for under the law.276 Ostensibly, the National 273 National Parks and Nature Reserve Law 5723-1963, 1963; available from http://faolex.fao.org/docs/ pdf/isr7843.pdf; accessed 24 April 2013. 274 National Parks, Nature Reserves, Memorial Sites and National Sites Law 1998, 1998 Sections 1 and 22. 275 National Parks, Nature Reserves, Memorial Sites and National Sites Law 1998. 276 National Parks, Nature Reserves, Memorial Sites and National Sites Law 1998; ‘Nature and Parks Authority’, 2013; available from http://www.parks.org.il/parks/Pages/WhoWeAre.aspx; accessed 24 April 2013. Source: Moriah- Jerusalem Development Company