On Sunday, the Israeli Cabinet approved groundbreaking measures to counter what it describes as the Palestinian Authority’s (P.A.) efforts to seize land in Judea and Samaria, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz. The decision aims to nullify the P.A.’s land registration campaign in Area C, which is under Israel’s full control per the Oslo Accords, and initiate Israel’s own land registration process to secure Jewish communities.

Katz stated that the move would strengthen and expand Jewish settlements, calling them a “defensive shield” for Israel’s central population centers, a necessity underscored by the ongoing war. He emphasized that Jerusalem must protect those safeguarding Israel’s citizens and communities. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who oversees civilian matters in Judea and Samaria, hailed the decision as part of his “normalization and de facto sovereignty revolution.” He noted that Israel is, for the first time, asserting permanent sovereignty by registering land, ensuring legal clarity, creating land reserves for settlement development, and blocking P.A. land grabs.

The Cabinet’s resolution declares P.A. land registry documents, such as maps and approvals, invalid for Israeli legal or administrative purposes. The defense establishment will take further steps to halt the P.A.’s campaign, including restricting P.A. staff access to areas, disrupting foreign support from the European Union and others, and demanding Ramallah cease its activities. These measures aim to reinforce Israel’s authority over Area C and prevent unauthorized P.A. control.

The Regavim movement, co-founded by Smotrich and a leader in combating illegal construction, praised the decision as a critical step forward. It criticized Israel’s past inaction while the P.A. aggressively pursued land registration with international funding and hundreds of workers. Regavim’s efforts align with Smotrich and Katz’s April 1 pledge to stop the P.A.’s land seizure scheme, which they argue threatens Israeli communities through illegal construction.

Smotrich has actively worked to thwart the P.A.’s Fayyad Plan, named after former P.A. prime minister Salam Fayyad, which seeks to establish a de facto Palestinian state. Under his oversight, the Defense Ministry’s Civil Administration has intensified enforcement, demolishing a record number of illegal P.A. structures in the past year. A December Regavim report highlighted a significant decline in illegal construction in Area C, the first in a decade, alongside increased enforcement actions.

The Cabinet’s actions reflect a strategic shift to assert Israel’s sovereignty and protect Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria. By prioritizing land registration and blocking P.A. efforts, Israel aims to secure its territorial and security interests. Smotrich stressed the need for additional measures to achieve lasting change, signaling a robust approach to countering the P.A.’s ambitions and reinforcing Israel’s control over the region.

Image - Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90