park. Emek Shaveh, an Israeli organization of archeologists and community activists, stated that “A visit to the national park clearly attests that there is almost no flora on these lands, and certainly no unique Mediterranean flora. As far as we understand, with the exception of the archaeological site, there is no justification for declaring the site a national park.” In 2014, Israel issued a new order to confiscate 187 dunums of the village lands to enlarge the national park. In 2013, Israel presented a plan to make the archaeological site of al-Nabi Samwil a touristic attraction. The villagers were not notified in advance about this plan. The plans to convert the area into a tourist center allows Israel to construct roads, a parking spot, a restaurant, a visitor’s center, a souvenir shop, walking paths and other structures that will be established adjacent to and occupying the archaeological area and many other attractions to encourage tourist activity. However, the villagers will be unable to profit from tourism by opening their own local restaurant, shop or vegetable stand.94 The Master Plan proposes construction of up to 1.2 dunums.95 The village of alNabi Samwil has no approved Master Plan. Residents of the village are in urgent need of such a plan to develop infrastructure, expand their homes, and to make proper divisions between private, public and agriculturalcommercial zoning areas. In effect, the “protection” of archaeological sites and the national park severely harms the residents, even though most of their activities do not involve harm to the antiquities or to the unique flora.96 The village has been limited to the few houses that were not destroyed in 1971.97 “We are not allowed to establish or build any kind of infrastructure; we cannot pave the roads or renovate our houses. Once, an organization donated materials to pave the road, but Israel confiscated everything.” The residents are not even allowed to put fences. The Israeli Civil Administration has started issuing demolition orders for fences. Moreover, there is only one school in the village that cannot accommodate more than 10 students. As a result, many children and youth are forced to go to schools outside the village, which means crossing military checkpoints on a daily basis. The residents have to cross the checkpoint into the West Bank to buy food and other goods, since there are no shops in al-Nabi Samwil. However, they are not allowed to buy whatever they want. They need to coordinate with the checkpoint about all the things they have bought. Then the soldiers decide whether they allow them to bring it into the village or not. 94 95 96 97 Elise Hannaford, “Nabi Samwil: Balancing Historical Heritage and Human Rights.” Emek Shaveh, Nabi Samuel. Ibid. Elise Hannaford, “Nabi Samwil: Balancing Historical Heritage and Human Rights.” 33