The US has reaffirmed its opposition to any Israeli annexation of the West Bank after the Security Cabinet approved a plan to significantly expand Jerusalem's influence in the territory.
Under the plan, the land registry in the West Bank, which until now has been classified, will be open to the public, meaning that potential buyers in Israel will be able to approach landowners with a view to purchasing real estate.
The cabinet also overturned a decades-old legal provision, left over from Jordanian control of the territory, restricting land sales to Muslim buyers only.
As such, Israeli Jews, Christians, and others will be able to acquire property in the West Bank just as they would in Israel.
The changes “are intended to remove decades-old barriers, repeal discriminatory Jordanian legislation, and enable accelerated development of settlement on the ground,” said Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz in a joint statement.
Away from land acquisitions, the scheme expands Israeli administrative powers within Areas A and B, as defined under the Oslo Accords.
While Area C, which includes most of the settlements, is fully administered by Israel, Area A is under the control of the Palestinian Authority (PA), and Area B is jointly administered by the two sides, with Israel taking responsibility for security.
Israel will now have expanded enforcement powers over water violations and environmental hazards that could impact other areas of the territory and damage to archaeological sites.
Significantly, it will also take over authority for building permits in Hebron, including the Tomb of the Patriarchs, from the Hebron municipality, which reports to the PA.
The plan has been condemned by the EU, which called it a "step in the wrong direction", while several Muslim nations issued a joint statement dubbing the move a "dangerous escalation".
Likewise, a spokesperson for the British Foreign Office said: “The UK strongly condemns the Israeli Security Cabinet’s decision yesterday to expand Israeli control over the West Bank.
"The UK has been clear: any unilateral attempt to alter the geographic or demographic make-up of Palestine is wholly unacceptable and would be inconsistent with international law. We call on Israel to reverse these decisions immediately.”
Conversely, Washington, which has been more supportive of the settlement programme under President Trump, stopped short of outright condemnation but did draw a red line on the issue of annexation.
"President Trump has clearly stated that he does not support Israel annexing the West Bank," read a White House statement.
"A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region."
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