Israel has reinstated land registration in the occupied West Bank for the first time since 1967, a move that has triggered strong criticism from Israeli human rights groups who warn it could accelerate Palestinian dispossession and formalise annexation.
The policy was approved following a proposal by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defence Minister Israel Katz. The process, known as the “settlement of land title,” is intended to formalise land ownership across the territory.
According to Al Jazeera, rights organisations argue that the renewed registration system may disproportionately impact Palestinians, many of whom lack formal documentation due to decades of conflict, displacement, and the long freeze on land settlement procedures imposed after 1967.
Concerns Over Dispossession
Israeli planning rights group Bimkom said the measure could “systematise the dispossession” of Palestinian land and further entrench settlement expansion.
Under Jordanian administration between 1949 and 1967, only about 30 percent of West Bank land was formally registered, leaving roughly 70 percent unregistered. Critics say the strict legal requirements for proving ownership mean many Palestinians may struggle to validate claims, potentially allowing land to default to Israeli state control.
Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement group, described the move as amounting to “full annexation,” arguing it creates a legal mechanism for expanding Israeli sovereignty over occupied territory.
Legal and International Implications
In 1968, Israeli authorities froze most land settlement procedures in the West Bank and Gaza, making inheritance transfers and ownership documentation increasingly difficult for Palestinians. Many displaced families no longer possess historical documents dating back to the British Mandate or Jordanian periods.
The renewed registration drive also echoes a similar process launched in occupied East Jerusalem in 2018, which rights groups say resulted largely in land being registered to the Israeli state or private ownership rather than to Palestinians.
The development comes amid heightened international scrutiny. In 2024, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion stating that Israel’s prolonged occupation of Palestinian territories is unlawful and that actions aimed at incorporating occupied land cannot alter its legal status.
Rising Tensions
The decision unfolds against a backdrop of rising tensions in the West Bank and growing debate over settlement expansion. While Israeli authorities have provided limited details on implementation, critics argue the move aligns with broader policies aimed at consolidating control over Palestinian land.
The policy is expected to face continued legal challenges and international reaction as the situation evolves.
