The Israeli security cabinet endorsed on Sunday, February 8, a series of measures that would “dramatically” change procedures related to land registration and property acquisition in the West Bank.
The decision is considered a dangerous development because it will facilitate the establishment of illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.
Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a joint statement that the new measures stipulate repealing the Jordanian laws, which have been in place since the West Bank was under Jordan’s administration (1950-1988).
These laws banned the sale of the property in the territory to Jews in order to impede illegal Israeli settlement.
Abbas urges US, international community for decisive response
The president of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Mahmoud Abbas, reacted to Israel’s decision by demanding a decisive response from the United States and the international community.
Abbas warned that the new measures “undermine international law, weaken the institutions of the Palestinian state and the two-state solution, and contradict previous efforts to achieve peace.”
Israel’s decision renders a viable Palestinian State impossible, says UN
For his part, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on Israel on Wednesday, February 11, to revoke the decision, describing it as “yet another step by the Israeli authorities towards rendering a viable Palestinian State impossible.”
Türk also considered the move a “violation of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination”. He further warned that the measures “will undoubtedly accelerate the dispossession of Palestinians and their forcible transfer, and lead to the creation of more illegal Israeli settlements.”
Moreover, the UN senior official cautioned that the approved rules will further “deprive Palestinians of their natural resources and restrict their enjoyment of other human rights.”
Arab League labels Israel’s measures “null and void”
Meanwhile, the Arab League held an emergency meeting in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Wednesday, to discuss Israel’s new annexation push upon request by the PA.
A statement was released following the meeting, calling on US President Donald Trump to “fulfill his pledge to prevent Israel from annexing the occupied West Bank”.
It also considered “all Israeli decisions aimed at seizing territory and altering its legal status and demographic makeup null and void.”
Media reports: Trump reiterated his opposition to Israel’s annexation of the West Bank
International media outlets cited a White House official on Monday, February 9, saying that Trump reiterated his rejection of Israel’s plans to annex the occupied West Bank.
The official explained that “a stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region.”
Read more: Israel launches large-scale military operation in the southern West Bank governorate of Hebron
Trump told US-based news outlet Axios on Tuesday, February 10: “I am against annexation”, however, Axios clarified that he did not say more on the matter.
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