politics
February 17, 2026
Israel approves major land grab in West Bank
Israel has moved to designate areas in the West Bank as “state property,” in a step hailed by its proponents as a “settlement revolution”
TL;DR
- Israeli security cabinet approved registering large West Bank areas as 'state property' for the first time since 1967.
- The decision aims to accelerate the settlement process and tighten Israeli control over the region.
- It follows a previous decision that eased land purchases for Jewish settlers and repealed a law on land registries.
- Hardline nationalist officials proposed the move, hailing it as a 'settlement revolution'.
- The Palestinian Presidency condemned the decision as a 'serious escalation' and a contradiction of UN resolutions.
- The move is illegal under international law for an occupying power.
- Israel has previously pushed to annex the West Bank despite international condemnation, including from its ally, the US.
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