For the first time since the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel has reopened formal land registration across Judea and Samaria, marking a historic shift in governance of the biblical heartland. Approved by the Israeli Cabinet, the decision authorizes the registration of extensive areas in the territory under the state’s name, ending a decades-long legal freeze. Israeli officials say the move brings clarity to land ownership, resolves long-standing disputes, and enables infrastructure development—while countering what they describe as illegal registration efforts by the Palestinian Authority in Area C.

The policy follows a series of steps lifting secrecy from land records, removing restrictions on sales to non-Arabs, and eliminating prior approval requirements for transactions. Supporters argue the vacuum created since 1967 invited document fraud and unlawful seizures, while critics claim the move entrenches Israeli control. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accelerated approvals for new communities and housing since returning to office, framing land registration as a lawful response to competing claims and a means to stabilize administration in the region.

SOURCE: JNS