Critical High Court decision threatens 2,000-year-old Zanuta ruins

The quiet archaeological site of Khirbat Zanuta, nestled in the rugged hills south of Hebron, is once again at the center of a heated dispute as Palestinian residents returned this morning under a second High Court of Justice ruling.

The decision mandates the IDF and police to ensure the safety of the returning villagers, who were displaced twice in less than two years due to settler violence. However, local leaders warn that unchecked construction could irreparably damage a site rich with history, reigniting a complex debate over heritage, security, and land rights in Area C of Judea and Samaria.

Khirbat Zanuta, a small hamlet 20 kilometers south of Hebron, sits atop ruins that hint at a layered past—potentially stretching from the Iron Age to the Byzantine era. Though not as thoroughly excavated as nearby sites like Khirbat as-Sar, its stone structures, cisterns, and caves suggest centuries of human activity, making it a point of interest for archaeologists and a symbol of heritage for the Har Hevron Regional Council. Yet, the site’s preservation is now under threat, according to council head Eliram Azulai, as returning residents—backed by activist groups—have begun rebuilding homes and a school previously deemed illegal by the court.

The saga began in October 2023, when the village’s 250 residents fled amid escalating settler attacks following the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel. Homes were damaged, and an EU-funded school was demolished during their absence. A High Court ruling in August 2024 allowed their return, ordering security forces to protect them, but renewed violence forced a second exodus. Today’s return, witnessed by journalists and activists, follows a February 2025 court order reiterating the state’s duty to safeguard the community while upholding demolition orders from 2007 against structures which are not permitted.

Azulai condemned the latest developments, arguing that the High Court’s mixed signals are jeopardizing the site’s archaeological integrity. “The court is encouraging illegal construction on an invaluable historical site, destroying artifacts thousands of years old,” he said in a statement. “Despite its own orders to the Civil Administration to enforce the law, their inaction has led to this chaos. I call on Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to intervene and protect this land for the Jewish people and future generations.” He emphasized that the council would use all available tools to prevent further damage.

The Civil Administration, tasked with overseeing Area C, maintains that Zanuta’s location atop an archaeological site precludes legalization, its failure to act decisively has drawn criticism from both sides. Residents, supported by groups like Haqel, argue their return is a rightful reclaiming of ancestral land, pointing to a generations-long presence predating Israel’s 1967 control of Judea and Samaria.

The situation underscores broader tensions in the region, where security, legal authority, and historical preservation often collide. The High Court’s insistence on protecting the residents reflects Israel’s commitment to rule of law, yet the lack of enforcement has fueled accusations of negligence. Meanwhile, the archaeological significance of Khirbat Zanuta—though not fully mapped—offers a tangible link to the area’s ancient history, a priority for Israeli officials who see it as part of the nation’s heritage.

The Har Hevron Regional Council vows to press forward with its campaign to safeguard the site, while the Civil Administration faces mounting pressure to clarify its next steps. For now, Khirbat Zanuta remains a fragile intersection of past and present, its fate hanging in the balance as the high court dithers.