Israel’s Mega Land Grab Explaining the Decision to Claim West Bank as State Property:

On Sunday, February 15, 2026, the Israeli Cabinet approved a historic and highly controversial plan to register large swaths of land in the West Bank (specifically Area C) as "State Property." This move, reported by Live Hindustan and international agencies, is being described by Palestinians and international observers as a major step toward the "de facto annexation" of the territory.

Key Details of the Decision

Resumption of Land Title Settlement: For the first time since the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel is resuming the formal process of "settling land titles" in the West Bank. This process was frozen for nearly 60 years.

The Burden of Proof: Under this new policy, the Israeli government will declare specific areas as being under registration. Any person claiming ownership of that land must present legal documents to prove it.

Conversion to State Property: If Palestinians are unable to produce deeds or documents (many of which are decades old or were lost during various conflicts), the land will automatically be registered as Israeli State Land.

Target Area: The policy primarily targets Area C, which constitutes about 60% of the West Bank and is already under full Israeli military control. Experts from the group Peace Now estimate that this could allow Israel to gain control of up to 83% of Area C.

The "Why" and "How"

The proposal was pushed by far-right ministers, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Goal: The stated objective is to strengthen Israel's grip on the territory and facilitate the expansion of Jewish settlements.

Changing Procedures: The decision also includes measures to make it easier for Israeli citizens to purchase land directly in the West Bank, removing the previous requirement for intermediary companies or special state permits.

Reactions and Impact

Palestine: The Palestinian Authority (PA) condemned the decision as a "grave escalation" and a "flagrant violation of international law," calling on the UN Security Council and the United States to intervene.

International: Countries like Egypt and Qatar have warned that this move will destroy the possibility of a "two-state solution" and leads to "massive land theft."

Redrawing the Map: Analysts suggest that by registering these lands, Israel is effectively redrawing the map of the West Bank, pushing Palestinian communities into smaller, isolated enclaves and making a future contiguous Palestinian state impossible.