The Israeli government has taken a significant step toward expanding its control over the occupied West Bank, approving a proposal to register large areas of the territory as “state property.” This marks the first time such a measure has been enacted since Israel’s occupation began in 1967, raising concerns about de facto annexation and the future of a two-state solution.
The proposal, spearheaded by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defence Minister Israel Katz, aims to formally claim ownership of land in the West Bank, a move widely condemned by Palestinians and the international community. The move effectively eases restrictions on Israeli settlement expansion in the region, a long-held goal of Smotrich and his political allies.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, Smotrich stated, “We are continuing the settlement revolution to control all our lands.” The initiative addresses a historical imbalance in land registration, as most Palestinian land remains unregistered due to a process halted by Israel in 1967. Formal registration establishes permanent ownership, a critical step in solidifying Israeli claims to the territory. International law prohibits an occupying power from confiscating or settling land in occupied territories.
The Palestinian Presidency swiftly denounced the decision as a “serious escalation,” asserting that it nullifies existing agreements and violates resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council, as reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa. This move is seen as a direct challenge to the Oslo Accords and any prospects for a negotiated peace settlement.
Defence Minister Katz characterized the measure as an “essential security and governance measure designed to ensure control, enforcement and full freedom of action for the State of Israel in the area,” according to The Jerusalem Post. This framing underscores the Israeli government’s justification for the move as a matter of national security and administrative control.
The decision follows a recent approval by the Israeli Security Cabinet of measures designed to facilitate the seizure of Palestinian land in the West Bank, further accelerating the expansion of illegal settlements. These measures, also promoted by Smotrich and Katz, remove longstanding “legal obstacles” to settlement construction.
Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned the decision, labeling it an attempt “to steal and Judaise lands in the occupied West Bank by registering them as so-called ‘state lands’.” In a statement, Hamas – which engaged in conflict with Israel following the October 2023 attacks – called the approval “a null and void decision issued by an illegitimate occupying power,” and a violation of international law and UN resolutions.
Analysts suggest the move represents a de facto annexation of the Palestinian territory, fundamentally reshaping the legal and civil landscape of the West Bank. Political analyst Xavier Abu Eid, speaking from Ramallah, told Al Jazeera that Israel is “packing annexation into some sort of a bureaucratic move.” He further noted that the International Court of Justice in 2024 determined that Israeli actions constitute annexation of the West Bank.
The implications of this decision are far-reaching, potentially eliminating any remaining legal basis for Palestinian land claims and solidifying Israel’s control over a territory claimed by Palestinians for a future state. The move is likely to further inflame tensions in the region and complicate efforts to achieve a lasting peace agreement.
What remains to be seen is the international response to this latest development and whether it will translate into concrete action to hold Israel accountable for its actions. The coming weeks will be critical in determining the extent to which this decision will reshape the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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