Israeli West Bank Land Registration Decision Sparks Concern

[Abdulwahid]

An Israeli government decision to classify vast areas of the occupied West Bank as "state property" has raised serious concern among Palestinian legal experts. The move reportedly targets lands in Area C where Palestinians are unable to present official proof of ownership.

According to Hasan Breijieh, a Palestinian legal expert and coordinator of a committee opposing Israeli settlement expansion, the decision effectively shifts ownership of such lands from Palestinian residents to Israeli authorities. He warned that this process could later enable the transfer of these lands to Israeli settlers.

Breijieh described the development as a systematic stripping of Palestinian land rights. He explained that lands historically held by Palestinian families but never formally registered are especially vulnerable under the new procedures.

In an interview with Anadolu, Breijieh stated that once land is recorded as Israeli state property, it can be reallocated to settlers. He emphasized that much of the West Bank has never undergone formal registration, making it susceptible to reclassification.

On Sunday, the Israeli government approved a proposal to resume land registration in the occupied West Bank. This marks the first time such procedures have officially restarted since Israel occupied the territory in 1967.

The process will be overseen by a unit under Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. This body will manage registration, issue sale permits, collect related fees, and supervise the legal framework governing Area C.

Breijieh added that the declaration is not entirely new but rather a renewal of earlier policies. He traced its origins to May 2025, when the Israeli government first approved the resumption of registration procedures that had remained suspended since 1967.

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