Context:

Israel has initiated a controversial land registration process in the occupied West Bank, potentially leading to significant Israeli control over the region, particularly Area C, which constitutes 60% of the territory under full Israeli military administration. This decision, described by critics as a 'mega land grab,' allows the Israeli government to resume land title settlements that were previously halted since 1967, raising alarms among Palestinians and international observers who consider it a violation of international law and a step towards de facto annexation. Palestinian leaders have called for immediate intervention from global powers, while Israel asserts the move is aimed at transparency and countering alleged illegal land claims by the Palestinian Authority. The registration process may start within the year, intensifying existing tensions and complicating future peace efforts.

Dive Deeper:

• The Israeli anti-settlement organization Peace Now highlighted that the new land registration process could allow Israel to gain control over approximately 83% of Area C, impacting around half of the West Bank.

• Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the decision, labeling it as a 'grave escalation' and urging the international community, including the U.N. Security Council, to intervene against what he termed 'de facto annexation.'

• The registration process will require land claimants to provide ownership documentation, which critics argue is nearly impossible for Palestinians to fulfill due to bureaucratic hurdles and lack of transparency.

• The decision comes after a series of Israeli policies aimed at bolstering settlement construction, legalizing outposts, and undermining the Palestinian Authority's influence in the region.

• Jordan and Qatar's foreign ministries condemned the move, with Jordan urging the international community to compel Israel to halt its actions, framing them as a dangerous escalation of the conflict.

• Despite past U.S. administrations' opposition to Israeli settlement expansion, current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains a close relationship with President Donald Trump, complicating the U.S. stance on annexation and settlement policies.

• Over 700,000 Israelis currently live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas that the international community largely views as illegally occupied.