Israel's government has approved a process to register land in the West Bank as "state property," drawing condemnation from Arab nations and critics who said it would accelerate annexation of the Palestinian territory.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said the measure, approved late on Sunday, February 15, would enable "transparent and thorough clarification of rights to resolve legal disputes" and was needed after unlawful land registration in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority.
Arab nations Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan criticized the move as illegal under international law. The measure is "aimed at imposing a new legal and administrative reality in the occupied West Bank" that would undermine peace efforts in the region, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
The European Union called on Israel to reverse the move. "This constitutes a new escalation after recent measures already aimed at extending Israeli control," EU foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni said.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres echoed that point and called the move "destabilizing," warning the "decision could lead to the dispossession of Palestinians of their property."
Read more here.
Israel's Approval of West Bank Land Registration Sparks Outrage
02/16/2026
Image
We work side by side with victims to obtain acknowledgment and redress for massive human rights violations, hold those responsible to account, reform and build democratic institutions, and prevent the recurrence of violence or repression.