Israel has initiated a contentious land registration process in a significant portion of the occupied West Bank, enabling the potential for extensive Israeli control over the area. This decision, announced on Sunday, marks a resumption of “settlement of land title” processes that had been frozen since the 1967 Middle East War. It requires individuals claiming ownership of land to submit documentation to validate their claims.
The Israeli anti-settlement organization Peace Now has described the initiative as a “mega land grab” from Palestinians. According to Hagit Ofran, the director of Peace Now’s Settlement Watch program, this move allows Israel to exert control over nearly all of Area C, which constitutes 60% of the West Bank and is under full Israeli military governance as per agreements from the 1990s.
Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, characterized the decision as “a grave escalation and a flagrant violation of international law,” equating it to “de facto annexation.” His office has called on the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council and the United States, to take immediate action against what they view as an infringement of Palestinian rights.
Escalation of Israeli Control
This announcement is part of a broader trend of increasing Israeli control over the West Bank. Recent months have seen Israel expand construction in Jewish settlements, legalize outposts, and implement bureaucratic changes aimed at strengthening its hold on the territory while diminishing the authority of the Palestinian governing body.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry contends that the Palestinian Authority has been advancing land registration in Area C contrary to existing agreements, which grant Israel civil and military authority over the region. The ministry stated that the decision made on Sunday is intended to promote transparency in land ownership claims.
The Cabinet approved this initiative, which had been discussed since May 2023, during a recent meeting. Under the new process, Israeli authorities will designate specific areas for registration, compelling anyone claiming ownership to substantiate their rights. Ofran warned that the ownership verification process could be “draconian” and lack transparency, suggesting that any land registered in Palestinian hands may ultimately revert to Israeli state control. She noted, “Palestinians will be sent to prove ownership in a way that they will never be able to do.”
According to Ofran, if implemented, this could enable Israel to take control of approximately 83% of Area C, which represents about half of the West Bank. The registration process could potentially commence as early as this year.
International Reactions and Implications
The proposal has garnered criticism from international observers, including Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, which urged the global community to “assume its legal and moral responsibilities” and to compel Israel to halt its escalation. Qatar’s foreign ministry labeled Israel’s actions an extension of its “illegal plans to deprive the Palestinian people of their rights.”
Historically, U.S. administrations have condemned the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains a close relationship with President Donald Trump. Despite their collaboration, Trump has expressed opposition to annexation.
Currently, Palestinians are not allowed to sell land privately to Israelis, although recent proposals aim to change this. Presently, settlers can purchase homes on land managed by the Israeli government. The latest decisions also seek to enhance Israeli enforcement of various regulations in the West Bank, including environmental and archaeological oversight in areas managed by the Palestinian Authority.
More than 700,000 Israelis reside in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel from Jordan in 1967. These areas are sought by Palestinians for their future state. The international community overwhelmingly regards Israeli settlement construction in these territories as illegal and a major obstacle to peace. An estimated 300,000 Palestinians live in Area C, with many others in adjacent communities relying on its agricultural and grazing lands, often linked to land deeds or tax records dating back decades.
