Israel’s authorities has permitted a course of to register land within the West Financial institution as “state property”, drawing condemnation from Arab nations and critics who mentioned it could speed up annexation of the Palestinian territory.
Israel’s Overseas Ministry mentioned the measure, permitted late on Sunday (February 15, 2026), would allow “clear and thorough clarification of rights to resolve authorized disputes” and was wanted after illegal land registration in areas managed by the Palestinian Authority.
However Egypt, Qatar and Jordan criticised the transfer as unlawful underneath worldwide legislation.
In a press release, the Egyptian authorities known as it a “harmful escalation aimed toward consolidating Israeli management over the occupied Palestinian territories”.
Qatar’s Overseas Ministry condemned the “choice to transform West Financial institution lands into so-called ‘state property’,” saying it could “deprive the Palestinian folks of their rights”.
The Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority known as for worldwide intervention to forestall the “de facto starting of the annexation course of and the undermining of the foundations of the Palestinian state”.
A Palestinian girl waits at a bus cease subsequent to Israeli flags, close to Luban e-Sharkiya, between Nablus and Ramallah, within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, on February 16, 2026.
| Photograph Credit score:
Reuters
Israeli anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now known as the measure a “mega land seize”.
Jonathan Mizrachi, the Israeli NGO’s co-director, advised AFP on Monday (February 16, 2026) that the measure would attribute new sources for land registration within the occupied West Financial institution.
The method will happen solely in Space C, which constitutes some 60% of West Financial institution territory and is underneath Israeli safety and administrative management.
“There was numerous ambiguity relating to the land, and Israel determined now to cope with it,” he mentioned, including that the prevailing ambiguity over Space C land possession is probably going for use towards Palestinians.
“Lots of land that Palestinians think about theirs, they’ll discover out it isn’t theirs underneath this new registration course of,” he mentioned, including the transfer will additional the Israeli proper’s annexation agenda.
Altering demography
Palestinians see the West Financial institution as foundational to any future Palestinian state, however many on Israel’s non secular proper need to take over the land.
Final week, Israel’s safety cupboard permitted a collection of measures backed by far-right Ministers to tighten management over areas of the West Financial institution administered by the Palestinian Authority underneath the Oslo accords, in place because the Nineteen Nineties.
These measures, which additionally sparked worldwide backlash, embrace permitting Jewish Israelis to purchase West Financial institution land straight and permitting Israeli authorities to manage sure non secular websites in areas underneath the Palestinian Authority’s management.
Israel has occupied the West Financial institution since 1967.
The newest Israeli initiatives come amid a wider context of accelerating assaults by Israeli settlers towards Palestinians within the territory, in accordance with rights teams.
“We’re witnessing speedy steps to alter completely the demography of the occupied Palestinian territory, stripping its folks of their lands and forcing them to go away,” UN rights chief Volker Turk mentioned in a latest assertion.
U.S. President Donald Trump has opposed Israel’s annexation of the West Financial institution, saying stability within the territory helps preserve Israel safe.
Nevertheless, Mr. Trump has held off from straight criticising the newest Israeli measures, regardless of the worldwide outrage.
Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, greater than 500,000 Israelis reside in West Financial institution settlements and outposts, that are unlawful underneath worldwide legislation.
Round three million Palestinians reside within the territory, which Israeli has occupied since 1967.
Printed – February 16, 2026 04:53 pm IST