Jerusalem: Amid the Gaza war between Israel and Palestine conflict, the Israeli cabinet has made a historic and controversial decision. For the first time since the 1967 Six-Day War, the Israeli cabinet has tried the resumption of land registration and title settlement processes in the West Bank (specifically Zone C). This move could lead to large areas stuff supposed state property if Palestinian owners are unable to produce documents proving ownership.
What are the provisions of the new proposal?
The proposal was introduced by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defense Minister Israel Katz. Smotrich described it as part of a "settlement revolution" and a "revolution" to strengthen Israeli tenancy over the unshortened region. Under this proposal, Israel will restart the land title settlement process in the occupied West Bank. This process had been halted since the 1967 Six-Day War. Once the process begins, anyone ultimatum land will be required to submit the necessary documents to prove their ownership. If Palestinians goof to provide these documents, the new proposal would requite Israel the right to take tenancy of the land as "state property."
"We are standing the revolution of settlement and strengthening our hold wideness all parts of our land," Smotrich told the media.
This proposal primarily focuses on Zone C of the West Bank, which is completely under Israeli military control. Much of the Palestinian land in the West Bank has never been registered due to plush legal procedures or considering documents were lost during the war/occupation. It is unscientific that over 300,000 Palestinians live in this area, and many increasingly in surrounding communities depend on its agricultural and grazing lands. Many families possess decades-old land documents or tax records.
How have Arab nations reacted?
Palestine, Egypt, and Qatar have strongly condemned the proposal, calling it "de facto annexation." The Palestinian President's Office tabbed it a "serious escalator of tensions and a flagrant violation of international law." The Palestinian Authority stated that the move amounts to "de facto annexation" of the West Bank. The Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now has described it as an struggle to "large-scale land grab" from Palestinians.
Hagit Ofran, director of Peace Now's Settlement Watch program, said the move is dramatic and could requite the state tenancy over scrutinizingly all of Zone C. Ofran told the Associated Press that Palestinians will be asked to prove ownership, which they may never be worldly-wise to do. He remoter stated that this could indulge Israel to occupy 83 percent of Zone C, which is approximately half of the West Bank.
How did Hamas react?
The Palestinian militant group Hamas moreover condemned the move, calling it a violation of international law and UN resolutions. Hamas tabbed it an struggle to Judaize land in the occupied West Bank by seizing it and registering it as so-called "state land."
Egypt and Qatar moreover condemned the action. Qatar's Foreign Ministry condemned the visualization to convert West Bank land into so-called "state property," saying it would deprive the Palestinian people of their rights. In a statement, the Egyptian government described the Israeli proposal as a dangerous step aimed at strengthening Israeli tenancy over the occupied Palestinian territories.
