West Bank annexation sparks concerns over silent transfer of territory

Jordanian Officials Sound Alarm Over Israeli Land Registry Laws and Military Pressure

A recent decision by the Israeli cabinet to register vast swaths of the occupied West Bank as “state land” under the Israeli Ministry of Justice has sparked concerns among former officials and strategists in Jordan. The move, which effectively bypasses the military administration that has governed the territory since 1967, is seen as a critical step towards implementing Israel’s long-held goal of creating an “alternative homeland” for Palestinians.

The new land registry laws are part of a broader strategy to consolidate Israeli control over the occupied West Bank and pave the way for massive settlement expansion. The transfer of land registration authority from the Palestinian Authority to the Israeli Justice Ministry is viewed as a key step in this process, erasing the Jordanian and Ottoman land registries that have protected Palestinian property rights for nearly a century.

Jordanian officials are warning that Israel’s actions amount to an “undeclared war” on the kingdom, with former deputy prime minister Mamdouh al-Abbadi stating that the transfer of land is no longer a threat but a practical reality. Al-Abbadi also pointed out that Israeli military nomenclature has shifted, with the establishment of a new brigade named after the Gilead region near Amman.

Major-General (retired) Mamoun Abu Nowar, a military expert, warned that Jordan must be prepared to take drastic measures to defend itself against Israel’s actions. He suggested that declaring the Jordan Valley a closed military zone could lead to conflict and ignite the region. However, he also noted that the unique social fabric of Jordan, with its tribes and clans, makes it unlikely that Israel would succeed in a confrontation.

The situation has sparked concerns among Jordanian officials, who are now assessing their military options as diplomatic avenues narrow. The transfer of land registration authority is seen as a critical step towards implementing Israel’s long-held goal of creating an “alternative homeland” for Palestinians, with the kingdom facing an uncertain future ahead.

Source: Al Jazeera