Israel Legalizes West Bank Annexation: What It Means

Israel has taken a significant step toward formalizing its control over the West Bank, enacting a series of measures that effectively erode the authority of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and pave the way for expanded Israeli settlement. While not a formal declaration of annexation, the decisions, approved by the Israeli security cabinet on Sunday, establish a legal framework for what experts describe as a creeping annexation of Palestinian territory.

The changes center around two key actions: revoking a Jordanian-era law restricting land purchases by non-locals and approving a bill concerning historical sites in the West Bank. These moves, according to the Israeli government, aim to remove “legal obstacles” to settlement expansion and establish a “stable reality” for years to come, as stated by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Under the 1993 Oslo Accords, the West Bank was divided into three administrative zones: Area A, under full Palestinian control; Area B, under joint Israeli-Palestinian control; and Area C, under full Israeli control. The new measures primarily target Areas A and B, allowing Israelis to purchase land and granting Israel greater authority over historical sites within these areas. This effectively diminishes the PA’s control and expands Israel’s administrative reach.

The revocation of the Jordanian law opens the door for Israelis to directly purchase property in Areas A and B, a practice previously hampered by restrictions. While Israelis have historically acquired Palestinian land through various means, including military orders and settlements, this new policy streamlines the process. This raises concerns that Israelis will pressure Palestinians to sell their property, potentially leading to the establishment of Israeli outposts within Palestinian cities and towns.

The approval of the “Antiquities Bill” grants Israel greater control over dozens of Palestinian historical sites in the West Bank. This move allows Israel to designate these sites as national heritage areas, potentially leading to restrictions on Palestinian access and development and facilitating the establishment of Israeli settlements near or within these areas. The bill has been in development since 2023.

Palestinian officials have strongly condemned the Israeli decisions. The Palestinian presidency called the move “dangerous” and an “open Israeli attempt to legalize settlement expansion and land confiscation,” urging the United States and the United Nations Security Council to intervene. Eight Muslim-majority countries also denounced the actions as an attempt to impose “unlawful Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli settlements council has hailed the decisions as “the most important since 1967,” signaling a fundamental shift in Israeli policy regarding the West Bank. The moves are seen as a further step toward dismantling the Oslo Accords and undermining the possibility of a two-state solution.

The changes are already impacting specific locations. In Hebron, Israel will now control building permits in the Old City, previously managed by the Palestinian Hebron municipality. Similarly, administrative authority over the religious site of Rachel’s Tomb, near Bethlehem, is being transferred to Israeli settlers. Israel has also begun planning an Israeli archeological park in Sebastia, potentially impacting a key tourist attraction for Palestinians.

These developments come amid escalating regional tensions and while the world’s attention remains focused on the devastation in Gaza. However, experts warn that the Israeli government is quietly executing a “legal coup” in the West Bank, fundamentally altering the civil and legal reality of the territory and accelerating the de facto annexation of Palestinian land.