Israel has approved a new plan to designate large areas of the occupied West Bank as “state property,” marking the first such move since 1967. The decision was reported by Israel’s public broadcaster KAN and is expected to have significant implications for land status and settlement expansion in the territory.
According to KAN, the proposal was submitted by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defence Minister Israel Katz. The plan seeks to formalize state control over lands that Israeli authorities argue lack formal private registration under existing legal frameworks.
Smotrich described the move as part of what he called a “settlement revolution,” stating, “We are continuing the settlement revolution to control all our lands.” The statement signals a broader push within the current government to consolidate Israeli presence across the West Bank.
Much Palestinian land in the territory remains unregistered due to a complex legal process that was halted after Israel captured the West Bank in 1967. The freeze on systematic land registration, combined with overlapping Ottoman, British, Jordanian, and Israeli legal systems, has left many property claims unresolved.
Palestinian officials and rights groups have long argued that such classifications facilitate settlement expansion and restrict Palestinian development. They contend that declaring land as “state property” often precedes allocation for Israeli settlements or related infrastructure.
The approval is likely to draw international scrutiny, as most of the global community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law. The move may further complicate diplomatic efforts and deepen tensions on the ground amid ongoing political and security challenges in the territory.
