Israel has taken unilateral steps to remove legal obstacles to land purchases in the West Bank, advancing towards its annexation goals while prompting calls for EU sanctions.
Israel has moved closer to annexing the West Bank by unilaterally removing legal barriers to land purchases in the region. Reports from the New York Times and Israeli outlet 'Times of Israel' reveal that on September 8, the Israeli security cabinet held a closed meeting where they approved a series of measures aimed at facilitating land registration and acquisition for Israelis in the West Bank. This includes the decision to make previously confidential land registry information public, which activists fear will enable settlers and real estate companies to exert pressure on Palestinian landowners to sell their properties.
In a controversial legislative change, Israel also abolished a ban that prohibited non-Muslims from purchasing real estate in the West Bank, a restriction dating back to the period of Jordanian rule before the 1967 Six-Day War. This change comes amid a complex legal landscape where selling land to Jews is punishable by death under Palestinian Authority laws. Consequently, until now, Jewish Israelis could only acquire land through registered corporations in the West Bank. The implications of this policy shift extend to the authority granted to the Israeli government, allowing it to demolish Palestinian structures in areas administered by the Palestinian Authority under the pretext of environmental hazards or historical preservation.
Additionally, the Israeli government has taken control over building permits in Hebron, a site significant to both Judaism and Islam, effectively transferring oversight from the Palestinian Authority. This decision raises concerns about the potential for expanding Israeli settlements and altering the character of religious sites. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich emphasized this approach as a means to strengthen Israel's claim over the land and diminish the concept of a Palestinian state, aligning his statements with the sentiments of Israel's far-right supporters. This development has prompted international criticism and calls, particularly from EU officials, to consider sanctions against Israel for its actions in the West Bank, further escalating tensions in the region.
