In the ongoing fight against the Palestinian Authority’s illegal takeover attempts in Judea and Samaria, the Security Cabinet today (Sunday) approved a joint proposal by Minister of Defense Israel Katz and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich for Israel to renew its land registration process in the region.
The resolution stipulates that land registration procedures carried out by the Palestinian Authority in Area C will be regarded as unauthorized and their outcomes will hold no legal validity in Israel.
As part of the decision, Israel’s defense establishment will be instructed to act against the continuation of the Palestinian land registration process in Area C. This includes barring entry to relevant personnel, blocking foreign aid that supports such activities, and demanding that the Palestinian Authority cease all operations in this area.
By approving the resolution, the State of Israel is effectively reinforcing its administrative and legal control over Area C in Judea and Samaria with regard to land registration. Renewing the registration process under Israeli authority, alongside invalidating the Palestinian efforts, grants Israel exclusive authority to determine land status and manage registration independently.
Strengthening Jewish Settlement
Additionally, the defense minister will instruct Israeli regional authorities in Judea and Samaria to resume the land registration process, accompanied by updates to the relevant security legislation. An inter-ministerial team will also be established to complete the professional, legal, and budgetary preparations for implementation within 60 days.
Minister Katz stated that the decision “does justice for Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria and will lead to its strengthening, consolidation, and expansion,” adding that it nullifies “the Palestinian Authority’s attempts to seize land in Area C.”
Reinforcing Sovereignty
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich remarked, “For the first time, the State of Israel is taking responsibility for the territory as the permanent sovereign and beginning land registration in Judea and Samaria,” saying this will create legal certainty and prevent Palestinian land seizure attempts.
The Regavim Movement welcomed the resolution, calling it a “historic correction.” According to the organization, for years Israel refrained from addressing the issue while the Palestinian Authority worked vigorously to register land, investing considerable resources.
Today’s decision, Regavim stated, turns the tables and establishes a new principle: “Everything is permitted – except what is prohibited.” In practice, land will still need to undergo a formal process in order to be classified as state land, but Palestinians will no longer be able to build or claim ownership based on unilateral assertions.
