The Israeli government continues to pass a series of laws and measures that consolidate control over the occupied West Bank, in an effort to transform the creeping annexation plan into a permanent legal and demographic reality, with a focus on strengthening settlements and eliminating any remaining Palestinian sovereignty over the land.

The Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is holding deliberations on Tuesday on a new bill titled "Abolishing Discrimination in Land Purchases in Judea and Samaria," which would allow settlers to purchase land within Palestinian cities and towns in the West Bank, and even allow the establishment of settlements outside the official regulatory framework and without direct government oversight, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.

Legislative escalation within the "sovereignty revolution"

This bill is part of a package of legislation pushed by the ruling right-wing coalition parties, aimed at accelerating de facto annexation, amidst the international community's preoccupation, particularly the United States, with the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

In a parallel context, the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved an amendment last week to adopt the term "Judea and Samaria" as the official name for the West Bank in all Israeli laws. This symbolic step carries legal implications, aiming to legitimize settlements and integrate the West Bank into the Israeli legal system.

Connecting settlements to Israeli infrastructure

The Knesset, in the presence of Energy Minister Eli Cohen, is expected to discuss tomorrow a project to connect settlements in the West Bank to the Israeli natural gas grid, which constitutes an expansion of the imposition of de facto sovereignty over Area C.

Controlling antiquities... and freezing clearing funds

The government is also working to transfer oversight of archaeological sites from the Israeli military to the State Antiquities Authority, strengthening the occupation's control over Palestinian cultural and historical resources. Israel has already begun excavations in the historic town of Sebastia in the northern West Bank, setting a dangerous precedent that paves the way for the transformation of archaeological sites into tools for justifying settlement expansion.

In the financial context, a bill is being discussed to freeze Palestinian clearance revenues, under the pretext of compensating Israel for alleged damages resulting from the theft of Israeli cars. This constitutes an additional punitive measure aimed at financially strangling the Palestinian Authority.

Land ownership registration... and the deepest legal blow

The most dangerous decision recently approved by the Israeli cabinet is a decision allowing the registration of land ownership rights in Area C in the West Bank in the Israeli land registry (tabu), a measure that has not been taken since 1967 and constitutes a clear violation of international law.

According to the decision, any land without official proof of ownership will be considered "state land" and registered in favor of the occupation authorities, threatening thousands of dunams whose Palestinian owners face procedural and legal difficulties in proving ownership.

In a joint statement, Defense and Finance Ministers Yisrael Katz and Bezalel Smotrich said the decision would prevent the Palestinian Authority from implementing parallel registration procedures and strip its documents of any legal validity.

Smotrich: "The Sovereignty Revolution in Judea and Samaria"

Smotrich praised the decision, calling it "a pivotal moment in the government-led revolution for effective sovereignty." He said, "For the first time, Israel is assuming civil responsibility for the area within the framework of permanent sovereignty, beginning with a comprehensive campaign to settle the land and end the PA's attempts to control open areas."

Researchers warn: This is a de facto annexation.

Dr. Yohanan Tzoref, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, described the recent steps as "unofficial annexation," asserting that Israel is now emerging as a state that rejects any political settlement or possible coexistence. He warned of strategic repercussions that could affect Israel's regional and international standing.

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