Recent events in the West Bank are pivotal political and legal changes that have emerged since the Oslo Accords. Israel’s decisions, ranging from opening pathways for land appropriation for settlers to transferring urban authority in Hebron, and officially initiating land registration processes in areas designated as ‘C’, are not merely administrative actions. They signify new links in a long-standing trend aimed at solidifying Israel’s practical sovereignty over much of the West Bank.
These developments occur against the backdrop of the ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ operation on October 7, 2023, and the extensive conflict in Gaza, which has drawn global attention primarily to that narrow strip, leaving the West Bank less scrutinized by the media. This international attention gap has allowed Israel to advance structural steps that could have deeper and more lasting implications than short-term military events.One of the most significant changes is the transfer of substantial civilian management powers in the West Bank from military structures to pro-settlement political entities. Under an agreement made in 2022, extensive responsibilities in urban planning, permit issuance, and construction oversight have shifted from the military’s civil administration to a political framework. Legally and administratively, this marks a transition from a state of ‘temporary occupation’ to a form of permanent governance.
Since 1967, the West Bank has been under complete military control. However, the gradual delegation of powers to Israeli civilian entities has blurred the line between military occupation and civil governance. Such a transformation indicates a fundamental shift in Israel’s presence in this territory.The Israeli cabinet’s decision to officially commence land registration and settlement in area ‘C’ marks a crucial milestone in this trajectory. This process had been stalled since 1967, and it has now been announced that portions of this area will be registered as ‘Israeli properties’ within a few years. Practically, this means that landowners who fail to provide updated official documentation may see their properties registered as Israeli.
Area ‘C’ comprises about 60% of the West Bank’s territory and was supposed to have its status determined in final negotiations under the Oslo Accords. Yet, three decades later, not only have those negotiations yielded no results, but actions are underway that could convert this temporary status into a permanent reality.From an international law perspective, the West Bank is considered occupied territory, and the occupying power has no right to make fundamental changes to land ownership regimes. Nevertheless, Israel has, over the decades, declared large sections of area ‘C’ as state land or military zones based on its specific interpretations of Ottoman and British Mandate laws. Official land registration elevates this situation from practical control to legal stabilization, a move from which it will be challenging to revert.
Simultaneously, restrictions on land sales to Israelis have been lifted. Laws that previously prohibited the sale of land to non-Arabs and kept ownership information confidential have been abandoned. As a result, access to owner names and details has been facilitated, paving the way for direct purchases or intermediary transactions.While Palestinians face economic pressures, movement restrictions, and significant challenges in obtaining building permits, the opening of the land market could lead to a gradual transfer of ownership. This transition may not occur through overt confiscation but rather through legal and financial mechanisms that appear legitimate yet effectively alter the demographic and ownership structure of the region.
The situation in Hebron exemplifies these changes. Since 1997, the city has been divided into two sections under a special protocol. The transfer of urban authority within the Ibrahimi Mosque area to Israel’s civil administration effectively diminishes the role of the Palestinian municipality in parts of the city. An independent urban entity is set to be established to manage settler affairs, operating without reliance on Palestinian structures for services and planning.This structure creates a dual system: a fully supported legal and administrative framework for settlers and a more limited one for Palestinians. Past experiences have shown that restrictions on building permits for Palestinians and the demolition of unpermitted homes coincide with the expansion of settlements, leading to a gradual change in the region’s human fabric.
What is happening in Hebron could serve as a model for other areas; a model in which urban control, public services, and spatial planning are progressively removed from Palestinian institutions.The Palestinian Authority, established under the Oslo Accords, was intended to pave the way for an independent state. However, with key powers over land and urban planning being transferred, its strategic functions are increasingly constrained. In a scenario where control over land and resources remains with Israel, the Authority may only manage demographic affairs, effectively nullifying the concept of sovereignty.
In this framework, Palestinians may possess separate administrative entities and identity documents but will lack real authority over land. This situation redefines the role of the Authority: an entity responsible for services and population management without control over land, borders, or resources.Internationally, discussions about the establishment of a Palestinian state and the need to return to negotiations continue. Some countries recognized Palestine last year, but these actions have not halted the unfolding on-the-ground dynamics. The gap between diplomatic discourse and the evolving realities on the ground is deepening daily.
If area ‘C’, the geographical backbone of the West Bank, is officially consolidated under Israeli ownership, the remaining territory available for a future state will be limited to a series of disconnected areas. In such a scenario, the possibility of establishing a state with contiguous territorial integrity and true sovereignty becomes increasingly compromised.The developments in the West Bank are not merely a domestic issue; they carry regional implications as well. Many normalization plans between Israel and Arab countries are linked to progress toward establishing a Palestinian state. If the trend of consolidating ownership and expanding settlements continues public pressure in the region will increase and the political space for open cooperation will diminish. Ultimately what is occurring in the West Bank today is more than a series of administrative decisions. This process could alter the land and population equation in such a way that returning to the Oslo framework or achieving an independent Palestinian state becomes exceedingly difficult. If this path continues unchecked the West Bank will gradually transform from a contested territory into a space with established Israeli sovereignty complicating and escalating the Palestinian issue further.
However the outcome of this process is not predetermined. Regional political developments Palestinian internal cohesion and the diplomatic engagement of international actors can significantly influence the future. What is clear is the gradual transformation of the rules of the game; a legal and administrative change that in relative global silence is shaping a new reality on the ground.
