• Israel's government approves controversial land registration in the West Bank as state property.
• The decision is viewed as a "de facto annexation" aimed at accelerating Israeli control over Palestinian territories.
• Widespread condemnation comes from various international bodies, Arab nations, and human rights organizations.
• Human rights groups warn that the process may allow Israel to seize large swathes of land from Palestinians who cannot prove ownership.
• The move further complicates the viability of a two-state solution, according to critics.

The Israeli government has officially approved a process to register significant areas of the occupied West Bank as "state property," marking the first time such measures have been enacted in the region since the occupation began in 1967. This decision allows for the resumption of previously frozen land registration procedures—which advocates say facilitates a transparent means to settle land ownership disputes—as Israel seeks to assert control over land that Palestinians may not be able to prove ownership of. Critics, however, see this as a calculated measure to expedite the annexation of Palestinian territories, particularly in Area C, which comprises about 60% of the West Bank under complete Israeli military control, as reported by Source 1, Source 3, and Source 4.

The international reaction has been swift and severe. Countries such as Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar have condemned the decision, labeling it a "dangerous escalation" that undermines international law and threatens the rights of the Palestinian people. The Palestinian Authority has called for immediate intervention from entities such as the United Nations and the United States to prevent what it describes as the beginning of formal annexation by Israel. These sentiments echo calls from various human rights groups, including Bimkom and Peace Now, which term the move a "mega land grab" aimed at solidifying Israeli settlements, as detailed in statements from Source 2, Source 5, and Source 6.

The Israeli government justifies the registration move by stating it aims to clarify ownership rights and address ongoing legal disputes within areas deemed controlled by Palestinian Authority governance. However, the process is heavily criticized for being highly inaccessible to many Palestinians, especially those lacking formal documentation to prove land ownership. The consequences of this decision may lead to the systematic dispossession and displacement of Palestinian communities who are unable to meet the stringent ownership requirements outlined by the Israeli authorities, as highlighted by sources like Source 7 and Source 9.

In addition to the condemnation from Arab nations and human rights organizations, the European Union has also urged Israel to reverse this land registration decision, emphasizing its illegality under international law and reiterating that annexation is fundamentally unacceptable. The EU stressed that such measures threaten the viability of a two-state solution, a stance shared by the United Nations and various other international observers, underscoring the global consensus against unilateral moves that alter the status of occupied territories, as reported by Source 8.