Israel Approves West Bank Land Registration, Sparks International Concern
Israel's government has approved the registration of large areas in the occupied West Bank as state property
, triggering widespread international criticism and raising security concerns in neighboring Jordan. This move is viewed by many as a significant step towards Israel's consolidation of control over the Palestinian territories, widely seen as accelerating annexation.
Historical Context
The decision to register large swathes of Palestinian land as state land
marks the first significant shift in land policy since the Six-Day War in 1967. This move enables the resumption of settlement of land title
processes, which had been frozen since the war. It is also seen as a move to facilitate land purchases by Israeli settlers, easing the process for Jewish settlers to buy land in the West Bank without the need for special permits.
Recent Developments
The proposal, submitted by the far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defense Minister Israel Katz, has been hailed as a major breakthrough
and a true revolution
to accelerate the settlement process. Israel's security cabinet also approved the repeal of a law dating back to times of Jordanian control over the area, making land registries public rather than private.
Israel is also reportedly expanding its civil control in Areas A and B, where all major Palestinian cities and towns are located. The move has been condemned as a de facto annexation of the occupied Palestinian territory
by Palestinians and international legal experts.
International Reactions and Implications
The controversial move has drawn sharp criticism from the international community, with Jordan being among the first to condemn it. Jordan's concerns stem from fears of a soft transfer
of Palestinians from the West Bank, a situation that experts warn could trigger a regional earthquake
.
The British government has also strongly condemned the decision, urging Israel to reverse it. Any unilateral attempt to alter the geographic or demographic make-up of Palestine is wholly unacceptable and would be inconsistent with international law,
the UK government said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities and Israeli rights groups have described the move as systematic dispossession of Palestinians, with some analysts suggesting that the new measures could bring an end to the Oslo Accords and dash hopes for a Palestinian state.
Conclusion
As Israel moves forward with its contentious land regulation process, the situation remains tense. The implications of these changes, both regional and international, are yet to be fully realized. With a potential escalation in the occupation and fears of a shift in the demographic balance in the region, the international community is closely watching developments in the West Bank.