Israel approves West Bank land registration, Palestinians slam ‘de-facto annexation’

Israel's cabinet has approved a process to register land in the occupied West Bank as "state property," a decision that has been met with significant backlash from the Palestinian Authority and several Arab nations. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who described the move as "continuing the revolution of settlement," along with Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Defence Minister Israel Katz, submitted the proposal, which aims to formalize Israeli control over extensive areas of Palestinian land that have remained unregistered since Israel's occupation began in 1967 (Middle East Eye, Al Jazeera). The Palestinian Authority condemned the land registration as a "de-facto annexation of occupied Palestinian territory," characterizing it as a dangerous escalation that seeks to legalize settlement expansion and weaken the already limited powers of the Palestinian Authority (Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle). The new policy will also remove longstanding restrictions that previously barred Jewish citizens from purchasing land in the West Bank, facilitating easier land acquisition for Israeli settlers and potentially compelling Palestinians to relinquish their land (Al Jazeera). International criticism has emerged from countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, which have labeled the Israeli decision as illegal under international law (Middle East Eye, Al Jazeera). The measures are seen as part of a broader strategy by the Israeli government to entrench control over the West Bank and undermine the prospect of a Palestinian state, raising concerns about increased tensions and potential displacement of Palestinian communities (Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle).