Israeli Cabinet Approves Historic Proposal to Register West Bank Lands as ‘State Property’ for First Time Since 1967
In a landmark decision that fundamentally alters the legal status of the West Bank, the Israeli government has approved a proposal to register lands in the territory as “state property” within the Israeli Ministry of Justice’s registry. The move, spearheaded by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defense Minister Israel Katz, marks the first time since the 1967 Six-Day War that such a registration process has been authorized, effectively shifting control from military to civilian oversight.
Deep Search: The Legal Shift
The approved proposal initiates a “sovereignty revolution” by lifting the freeze on land registration that has been in place since 1968. For nearly six decades, land administration in the West Bank was governed by the Civil Administration—a military body—under Military Order 291, which suspended the settlement of land titles to maintain the status quo of the occupation.
Under the new directive, the Israel Land Authority and the Ministry of Justice will oversee the registration of land rights. This change allows land currently designated as “state land” to be formally registered in the name of the State of Israel, rather than the “Administrator of Government Property in Judea and Samaria.” Furthermore, the decision reportedly includes mechanisms to repeal existing Jordanian-era laws that restricted land sales to non-residents, thereby streamlining the process for Israeli citizens to purchase property directly in the West Bank without requiring special military transaction permits.
Background
Since capturing the West Bank from Jordan in 1967, Israel has ruled the territory under a belligerent occupation legal framework, which typically prohibits the occupying power from making permanent changes to the legal system unless necessary for security. Historically, land registration was frozen to prevent the alteration of property rights during the conflict.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also holds a ministerial post within the Defense Ministry, has long advocated for the application of Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank. By transferring land management from the military to civilian ministries, the government is effectively harmonizing the legal status of West Bank settlements with that of sovereign Israel. This move follows a series of administrative transfers over the past two years that have gradually reduced the Civil Administration’s authority over civilian life in the settlements.
Objections
The decision has triggered immediate and intense criticism from legal experts and international observers.
Palestinian Authority: Palestinian officials have condemned the move as “de jure annexation,” arguing that it obliterates the possibility of a future two-state solution by treating occupied territory as an integral part of Israel.
International Concerns: European Union representatives and legal scholars argue that the move violates the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Hague Regulations, which forbid an occupying power from extending its own domestic laws and permanent sovereignty over occupied territory.
NGO Warnings: Israeli watchdog organizations, including Peace Now and Adalah, have described the decision as “a mega-theft of Palestinian land.” They warn that the new registration process could be used to retroactively legalize outposts and seize land where Palestinian ownership is difficult to prove due to the chaotic state of Ottoman and Jordanian land records.
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