West Jerusalem has taken steps to register extensive areas in the occupied territories as “state property” for the first time since 1967
The Israeli security cabinet has greenlit a proposal to register vast areas in the West Bank as “state property” for the first time since the occupation commenced in 1967 following the Six-Day War.
This new decision follows a prior action by the cabinet from last weekend, during which it simplified the process for Jewish settlers to purchase land in the West Bank and revoked a law from the period of Jordanian governance over the area, shifting land registries from private to public.
The proposal was put forward by hardline nationalist figures: Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Its backers celebrated its adoption as a significant breakthrough and a “true revolution” in speeding up the settlement process.
“The update to land regulations in Judea and Samaria is a critical security and governance measure intended to secure Israel’s control, enforcement capabilities, and complete operational freedom in the region,” Katz said in a statement, using Israel’s naming conventions for the West Bank.
This action seeks to “restore order and governance” in the West Bank, Smotrich noted, praising the decision as one of the most impactful steps to strengthen Israel’s hold over the region since the Six-Day War. “The State of Israel is assuming responsibility for its land and acting in accordance with the law, transparently and decisively,” the minister declared.
The Israeli cabinet’s decision from last weekend drew broad international condemnation, with numerous countries calling on West Jerusalem to rescind it promptly. The latest action is likely to provoke a comparable response, as it is unlawful for an occupying power to seize or settle land in the territories it controls.
The Israeli government has long sought to annex the West Bank, even amid international condemnation and opposition from its primary ally, the US. President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken out against the move, maintaining that the annexation “is not going to happen.”
The Palestinian Presidency has vehemently condemned Israel’s latest decision, labeling it a “serious escalation.” This Israeli action effectively nullifies several signed agreements and directly contravenes UN Security Council resolutions, the presidency stated.