Israel’s government has accelerated the legal and administrative transformation of the occupied West Bank, approving a series of measures that critics say amount to de facto annexation and the dismantling of the Oslo framework.
Decisions passed by the security cabinet directly affect land ownership, property registries and the application of Israeli law in Palestinian territories.
Among the most significant steps is the repeal of a Jordanian-era law that prohibited the sale of land to Jews in the occupied West Bank. The move opens the way for direct property purchases and is accompanied by the reactivation of a state land acquisition committee and the declassification of previously confidential land records.
Under the new rules, any Israeli citizen will be able to access land registries and obtain the names and details of Palestinian property owners. Critics warn this could pave the way for increased pressure on residents, adding to existing practices such as intimidation, threats and coercion.
Promoted by ministers in the current government, the package is presented as an effort to remove bureaucratic obstacles and support settlement expansion.
The reforms also transfer planning and construction powers from Palestinian authorities to Israel’s Civil Administration in sensitive areas such as Hebron, including sites around the Ibrahimi Mosque. Observers say this alters the administrative balance established under the Oslo Accords, effectively nullifying key provisions.
The measures extend beyond areas under full Israeli military control. The government plans to broaden the application of Israeli laws and enforcement activities into parts of the West Bank formally administered by the Palestinian Authority.
New provisions allow greater Israeli intervention in matters including building deemed illegal, land management, environmental regulation and archaeological heritage.
For Palestinians, the changes represent a structural shift, expanding Israel’s authority in the occupied territories and reshaping the legal framework governing land and local institutions.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key proponent of the reforms, has described the steps as part of a broader effort that critics interpret as blocking the creation of a future Palestinian state.
The Palestinian Authority has condemned the initiative and called on the United States to intervene, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to visit Washington later this week.
The timing suggests Israel anticipates limited pushback from its ally, while tensions over Gaza and Hamas remain unresolved.
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