Hundreds of settlers on Monday morning stormed an archaeological site near the city of Nablus, in the northern West Bank.

Hundreds of settlers arrived by motorbikes and buses to the Burnat site, which is located on the top of Mount Ebal, north of Nablus, according to local sources. 

The sources pointed out that the Israeli forces deployed heavily in the surrounding roads and streets to secure protection for settlers on their way to the archaeological site.

This is the first time that this number of settlers take part in storming this site, with the participation of settler families.

Jewish groups had previously announced their intention to storm Mount Ebal to reach the archaeological site.

This storming of the Burnat site is considered a new settlement development in light of the plan pursued by Israel to control the archaeological sites in the West Bank.

Burnat is located on the top of the northern of Mount Ebal, to the east of the northern of Asira al-Qibliya town, and covers an area of approximately 37 dunums.

The site contains stone chains and a stone building that farmers used to shelter from the winter rain and summer heat, as well as a place for their agricultural tools and livestock.

 

The settlers claim that this site includes the Yeshua Bin-Nun altar, which dates back to the 13th century BC, which is opposed by many archaeologists, including Israeli archaeologist.

The settlers' attempts to take over the Burnat site began about 6 years ago, and these attempts escalated last year, which citizens responded to by organizing campaigns to plant trees and weekly marches interspersed with confrontations with the Israelis.

Source : Safa