JERUSALEM — On 15 February 2026, the Israeli cabinet formally approved a controversial proposal to begin registering large areas of the occupied West Bank as “state property,” a step proponents say will clarify land rights and enhance control but which opponents describe as unlawful and dangerous. The move was the first such initiative since Israel captured the territory in the 1967 Middle East war.
The decision, pushed by far‑right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, sparked intense debate both domestically and internationally. According to a cabinet statement, the policy was intended to bring “transparency” and resolve disputes over land ownership in parts of the West Bank under Israeli control.
‘Strengthening Control’ vs. ‘De‑Facto Annexation’
Far‑right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich heralded the move as part of a broader agenda to expand Israeli governance over the territory. “We are continuing the revolution of settlement and strengthening our hold across all parts of our land,” Smotrich said, embracing the implication that the registration policy would solidify Israel’s territorial presence. Defense Minister Israel Katz also defended the step, calling it “a vital security and governance measure,” arguing it would improve enforcement and clarify Israel’s administrative authority.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the cabinet’s decision in blunt terms. In a 15 February statement carried by official Palestinian news agencies, Palestinian leadership described the move as “a de‑facto annexation of occupied Palestinian territory” that violates international law and undermines previously signed agreements, warning it “poses a threat to security and stability.”
International and local critics echoed those concerns. The Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now warned the measure could lead to the dispossession of Palestinians from vast areas of the West Bank and facilitate further unchecked settlement growth. Such warnings are set against the backdrop of a 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice, which deemed Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal under international law.
In addition to Palestinian opposition, several Arab and Muslim‑majority countries have publicly condemned the decision as illegal and destabilizing, urging global bodies to compel Israel to halt these practices. Critics argue the move deepens Israeli entrenchment in the West Bank and further erodes hopes for a two‑state solution.
The Israeli government, however, portrays the policy as a necessary administrative update. In a joint statement announcing the land registration plan, Cabinet ministers said it would allow the Authority for Registration and Settlement of Land Rights to oversee settlement lands, receive dedicated funding, and help resolve longstanding legal disputes, framing it as clarification rather than conquest.
