By Micah Jonah
February 17, 2026
The Israeli government has approved a plan to restart land registration in parts of the occupied West Bank, a move critics say could formalise the seizure of Palestinian land and accelerate settlement expansion.
The process, described as a “settlement of land title”, will apply to Area C of the West Bank, which remains under full Israeli military and civilian control. Area C makes up about 60 percent of the territory.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, alongside Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Defence Minister Israel Katz, backed the proposal, framing it as part of efforts to strengthen Israeli control over the area.
Palestinian officials, however, have condemned the decision, describing it as a de facto annexation of occupied land. Analysts argue that the new policy could allow Israel to register large tracts of unclaimed or undocumented land as state property if Palestinian residents are unable to provide formal proof of ownership.
Under the 1993 and 1995 Oslo Accords signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the West Bank was divided into Areas A, B and C. While Areas A and B fall under varying degrees of Palestinian administrative authority, Area C has remained under complete Israeli control.
Human rights groups warn that restarting land registration could lead to increased evictions, particularly in communities where land documentation dates back decades or was lost during earlier conflicts. Observers note that similar processes in East Jerusalem have resulted in limited successful land registration for Palestinians.
The Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now described the policy as a “mega land grab,” cautioning that it could transfer most unregistered land in Area C into state hands.
The development also raises questions about international law. In 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s expropriation of land and expansion of settlements in occupied Palestinian territory contravened international legal standards and must cease.
Jordan, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, has strongly condemned the latest move, calling it a violation of international law and warning of its implications for regional stability.
The West Bank is home to about 3.3 million Palestinians, while roughly 700,000 Israeli settlers reside in settlements and outposts across the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Analysts say renewed land registration could further inflame tensions in a region already strained by violence and political uncertainty.
