The ongoing tension in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has reached a critical juncture with Israel’s recent decision to resume land registration processes in the occupied West Bank, a move that Israeli human rights advocates argue will exacerbate the ongoing cycle of dispossession and displacement of Palestinians. This development, described as a potential route to further entrenched settlement expansion, highlights an urgent need for global awareness and dialogue around the complexities and human rights implications of land ownership in a region fraught with historic grievances and aspirations.
Israeli authorities have resumed land registration processes in the occupied West Bank for the first time since 1967, a move that has sparked significant concern among Israeli human rights organizations. They assert that this decision could facilitate the unlawful dispossession and displacement of Palestinians, in violation of international law.
The resumption of the land registration process, termed ‘settlement of land title’, was approved following a proposal by far-right Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, along with Minister of Justice Yariv Levin and Minister of Defence Israel Katz. This new policy provides Israel with a legal framework to intensify the confiscation and systematic appropriation of Palestinian land, effectively enabling further settlement expansion and entrenching what many characterize as an apartheid regime.
Bimkom, an Israeli organization dedicated to land and housing rights, described this resumption as a systematic method for enabling Israeli expansion into Palestinian territories. Michal Braier, Bimkom’s head of research, emphasized that this land registration will likely be inaccessible to many Palestinians, particularly those who lack formally registered land or sufficient documentation to prove ownership. She noted that only about 30 percent of the West Bank was formally registered during the Jordanian administration from 1949 to 1967, leaving a staggering 70 percent of the land unregistered.
Even for those with formally registered assets, the hurdles for proving ownership are exceedingly high, with most Palestinians lacking the necessary documentation. Additionally, historical circumstances have complicated land claims, as legal records may have been lost or made unreachable due to the dislocations caused by the Arab-Israeli wars of 1948-49 and 1967.
Legal experts and activists have likened this move to a “full annexation” of Palestinian land. Hagit Ofran from the anti-settlement group Peace Now stated that the Israeli government is effectively pushing for documentation dating back to the British mandate or the Jordanian period, which is exceedingly challenging for Palestinians to produce. She stressed that the process is designed in a manner that will, for the most part, result in land being registered under Israeli control.
The Israeli Supreme Court recently dismissed a petition against the new land registration initiative, labeling it as “premature” for a judicial ruling. This decision has raised alarms among Palestinian advocates and legal experts regarding the implications for future land rights and access for Palestinians in the occupied territories.
Surprisingly, a similar land registration process in occupied East Jerusalem, initiated in 2018, has shown a dismal outcome for Palestinian interests. Research conducted by Bimkom reveals that only 1 percent of the land registered in that timeframe was assigned to Palestinians, while the majority fell under the control of the Israeli government or private Israeli citizens.
In this context, Braier highlighted the looming threat posed by the current Israeli government’s plans, suggesting that their overarching aim is to intensify settlement expansion while confining Palestinian inhabitation to dwindling territories.
The recent moves by Israeli authorities are drawing attention from various human rights organizations and scholars advocating for a reassessment of the international community’s stance on land ownership and occupation in a region where historical narratives and rights continue to clash. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for engaging with one of the world’s most challenging geopolitical issues. #WorldNews #MiddleEastNews