JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The “Regavim” movement (for protection of State lands in Israel) sent an urgent letter to the authorities demanding an immediate halt to large-scale agricultural encroachments taking place at the ancient archaeological site “Khirbet Parsin,” on state land about one kilometer from the settlement of Hermesh in northern Samaria.

According to data and field observations compiled by Regavim’s field coordinators, the takeover involves four adjacent plots at the historic site, which contains antiquities and remains estimated to be about 2,000 years old and attributed to the Second Temple period. The site preserves the biblical name “Parash” (associated with descendants of Manasseh) and the Talmudic name “Kfar Parshai.” Findings there include a ritual bath (mikveh), burial caves, underground systems, and impressive Ottoman-era structures.

Regavim attached aerial photographs to the letter showing that development work, including land excavation and road opening,began in 2021. However, in the past two years the scale of the takeover has increased significantly, and the entire area has been subjected to extensive agricultural cultivation, including plowing, planting, and heavy fencing. At the same time, illegal structures were built in the nearby area. The work is being carried out using heavy mechanical equipment, without archaeological supervision, causing irreversible damage to historical soil layers and deliberately destroying national heritage assets.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, said: “The heritage and archaeological sites in Samaria are a national treasure that tell the story of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel over thousands of years. Khirbet Parsin is a site of exceptional historical and archaeological importance, and therefore must be preserved and protected. I call on all responsible authorities to mobilize to preserve the site, protect the antiquities and state lands, and ensure that future generations can learn and connect with the rich heritage embedded in the soil of Samaria. A living history book is being erased. The authorities must turn the table!”

Roi Druker, director of Regavim’s Judea and Samaria region, said: “We are witnessing a widespread and destructive phenomenon of brutal destruction of historical heritage sites in Judea and Samaria. Enforcement authorities must act immediately against the erasure of history and attempts to take over tens of dunams in the area. They are obligated to stop the lawlessness in the region.”

The Regavim movement was recently sanctioned by the EU after it revealed that the EU had built an illegal structure in a nature reserve near Herodium and a professional engineering assessment found it posed a safety hazard to the children and staff inside.