Israeli cabinet approves new land registration process in Judea and Samaria, while critics decry 'de facto annexation’

The Israeli Cabinet approved the proposal of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Justice Minister Yariv Levin to open the land registration process in Judea and Samaria on Sunday. 

This significant policy change, which would allow the state to register land in the name of private Israelis, alters procedures that have been in place since Israel conquered the territory during the Six-Day War. 

As part of the decision, the Authority for Registration and Settlement of Land Rights in the Ministry of Justice will be authorized to carry out the settlement on the ground, while allocating a budget and designated standards. The stated goal of the move is to formally register large areas in Judea and Samaria – internationally known as the West Bank – defined as state lands, in the name of the State of Israel, to be made available for purchase by either private citizens or companies. 

“The settlement procedures will allow for a transparent and in-depth clarification of rights, which will bring an end to legal disputes and enable the development of infrastructure and the marketing of land in a regulated manner,” the ministers announced. “The decision constitutes an appropriate response to the illegal settlement procedures that the Palestinian Authority is promoting in Area C, in violation of the law and agreements.” 

Under the Oslo Accords in 1993, the West Bank was divided into Area A (full Palestinian civil and security control), Area B (Palestinian civil control with Israeli security control), and Area C (full Israeli civil and security control).

According to Smotrich and Katz, “The moves are intended to remove decades-old barriers, abolish discriminatory Jordanian legislation, and enable accelerated settlement development in the area.” 

Smotrich also said, “We are continuing the revolution of settlement and strengthening our hold across all parts of our land.” 

The cabinet decision joins other recent Israeli government moves aimed at strengthening Israeli control over and authority in Judea and Samaria. 

The cabinet approval gives full government support to the previous decision by the smaller security cabinet last week. Particularly, the cabinet decision on Sunday removed the previous confidential nature of land registries in Judea and Samaria, which made land acquisition difficult and allowed for fraud. The cabinet decision requires public land registries, making purchase by private citizens easier. 

Government officials explained that the cabinet decision is partially intended to provide a response to recent moves by the Palestinian Authority, including registering land in Area C, sometimes in violation of the Oslo Accords, and the destruction of some archeological sites related to Jewish and Israelite history. 

Under existing agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Area C remains under Israeli administrative and civil authority.

Despite this clear framework, the Palestinian Authority is advancing illegal land registration procedures in Area C - a blatant violation of… pic.twitter.com/4tJsxPddmi

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) February 16, 2026

However, despite the decision by the full cabinet, the land registration process for Area C could take over a year, and registering all non-registered land will take even longer. Even the process for establishing the new registration mechanisms is expected to take around a year and a half. 

The decision by the cabinet drew condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, with P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas’ office saying the decision constitutes “a de-facto annexation of occupied Palestinian territory and a declaration of the commencement of annexation plans aimed at entrenching the occupation through illegal settlement activity.” 

The Egyptian government also condemned the decision, with it’s foreign ministry calling it a “dangerous escalation aimed at consolidating Israeli control over the occupied Palestinian territories.” 

The Qatari foreign ministry also condemned the “decision to convert West Bank lands into so-called 'state property,'" saying it would “deprive the Palestinian people of their rights.” 

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry, also issued a statement, calling on the international community to “assume its legal and moral responsibilities, and to compel Israel, the occupying power, to stop its dangerous escalation.”