Israel has announced a new and highly controversial land registration process in the occupied West Bank, which has raised alarms among Palestinian advocates, particularly the peace organization Peace Now. They argue that this initiative could facilitate large-scale land appropriation from Palestinians, allowing the Israeli government to claim ownership and reallocate these areas for new settlements and other developments. The decision mandates that individuals asserting land ownership must produce legal documents to prove their claims, with the potential outcome that unverified lands will revert to Israeli state control.

The C areas, which make up roughly 60 percent of the West Bank, are of particular concern as they fall under full Israeli military control as outlined in the Oslo Accords established with the Palestinians in the 1990s. Peace Now's leader, Hagit Ofran, has described the new registration initiative as "very dramatic," stating that it grants Israel an opportunity to significantly tighten its grip on these regions. The measure is perceived as ruthless, considering the implications it holds for Palestinian land rights and autonomy in the West Bank.

The Israeli government’s decision to enforce this land registration process follows a cabinet meeting where such actions were discussed, emphasizing an ongoing trend towards increasing Israeli settlement activity in Palestinian territories. Critics warn that this action may further inflame tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, undermining prospects for peace and exacerbating the already strained situation in the region.