The Israeli government has approved a proposal to register extensive areas of the occupied West Bank as state property, marking the first such decision since Israel’s 1967 occupation of the territory, according to the country’s public broadcaster Kan, as reported by Anadolu Agency. The proposal was introduced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defense Minister Israel Katz. If implemented, the lands in question will be formally recorded as Israeli state-owned property.

The move is expected to accelerate settlement expansion in the West Bank and further complicate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinian groups and human rights organizations have long opposed such initiatives, viewing them as violations of international law and obstacles to peace.

Many countries in the international community consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law. Observers suggest that this decision could trigger renewed diplomatic backlash against Israel’s policies in the occupied territories.