Israeli Measures in West Bank Prompt Outcry Over De Facto Annexation

Wed Feb 11 2026 02:45:34 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Recent Israeli government actions in the West Bank, aimed at facilitating Jewish settlement expansion, are being condemned as steps towards de facto annexation by Palestinian authorities and international observers.

The Israeli cabinet's recent decisions, which ease regulations for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, have sparked significant condemnation from Palestinian officials, Arab states, and international agencies. Critics argue these measures represent an unlawful annexation of Palestinian land, with fears that they will incite further conflict and threaten the prospect of a Palestinian state.

Palestinians, Arab countries, Israeli anti-occupation groups, and the UK have condemned new steps approved by Israel's security cabinet for the occupied West Bank, claiming they are tantamount to de facto annexation.

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the changes that would make it easier for Jewish settlers to take over Palestinian land, declaring, We will continue to kill the idea of a Palestinian state. Critically, all settlements are seen as illegal under international law.

The measures are designed to enhance Israeli control over the territory through changes in property law, planning, licensing, and enforcement. They were publicized just days ahead of a significant meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump in Washington.

Under the new rules, the longstanding prohibition on the direct sale of West Bank land to Jews has been lifted, and local land registry records are being declassified. These shifts have raised alarm that they could lead to increased pressure on Palestinians to sell land and may facilitate fraudulent transactions.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the policies as dangerous and called for immediate intervention from the US and the UN Security Council.

Israel's NGOs such as Peace Now warned that the cabinet's decision could undermine the Palestinian Authority and was evidence of Israel's intent to formalize settlement expansions and land confiscations.

International reactions were swift, with the UK vehemently opposing the annexation attempts and the foreign ministers of eight Arab states condemning the actions as exacerbating illegal annexation and displacement of the Palestinian people. They warned that the continued Israeli policies only serve to escalate violence and conflict within the region.

The situation reflects a longstanding contentious issue regarding land rights at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, creating a murky landscape for land sales to settlers, typically involving complex negotiations with middlemen and often seen as treason by the Palestinian Authority.

The recent actions align with a broader trend of escalating Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank over recent years, prompting concerns over the feasibility of a future Palestinian state and further complicating the peace process.