Oslo Accords Collapse as Israel Seizes Control of West Bank Territory

Israel Approves Plan to Register Palestinian Lands as State Land

The Israeli cabinet has approved a plan to register Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank as “state land.” The proposal, pushed by far-right leaders including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defence Minister Israel Katz, emphasizes Israeli control over the territory.

As part of the plan, 35 new positions have been created and 244.1 million shekels (approximately $79m) have been allocated for the land registration project from 2026 to 2030. The process outlined in the proposal is not new, having been frozen since 1967, but its resumption marks a continuation of Israel’s longstanding plan to take over Palestinian lands.

The Israeli government has created a Land Title Settlement Administration, part of the Ministry of Justice, to oversee land registration in Area C, which constitutes more than 62 percent of the West Bank. This shift from military administration to direct Israeli civilian governance is expected to take place through this new process.

In addition to the land registration plan, Israeli authorities have recently adopted measures to open land purchase mechanisms for settlers and reduce oversight in Areas A and B, which are under international agreements signed by Israel. These actions mark a new phase of Zionist territorial conquest in the 21st century, relying on administrative consolidation rather than overt warfare.

The proposal has been met with criticism from Palestinian groups, who view it as an attempt to solidify Israeli control over the West Bank. The plan is part of Israel’s broader strategy to take over Palestinian lands, which has remained unchanged despite the country’s recent efforts to reduce visible and large-scale violence in the region.

Source: Al Jazeera