Khaberni - The Security Cabinet (the Cabinet), on Sunday, approved a series of decisions presented by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, which lead to a radical change in the legal and civil reality in the occupied West Bank.
According to the official statement, the decisions aim to remove barriers that have existed for decades that contribute to enabling rapid settlement development in the area, and also cancel the Jordanian law that prohibits the sale of land to Jews.
The statement explained that among these decisions is the declassification of land registry records in the West Bank and making them public, after they were blocked, which the ministry said would enhance transparency and facilitate land purchase operations.
The statement also mentioned that the Cabinet also decided to transfer the building permitting authority in the Jewish community in Hebron, and in the Ibrahimi Mosque, and in other holy sites, from the Hebron municipality to planning institutions affiliated with the Civil Administration, which allows the implementation of planning procedures without the need for Palestinian municipal approvals. Full municipal powers were also granted to manage Hebron’s affairs to directly address the settlers' issues.
The statement mentioned the renewal of the land purchase committee, which had been inactive for about 20 years, enabling the execution of proactive land purchase operations in the West Bank.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said that these decisions “strengthen the Israeli grip on the West Bank” and reinforce settlement, while Finance Minister Smotrich affirmed the continuation of deepening Israeli control over the land.
