Точка Синхронізації

The Palestinian Authority and local leadership expressed grave concerns on Monday, June 24, 2024, as the Israeli government authorized a series of administrative measures in the West Bank that effectively transfer civilian authority over the territory to pro-settler officials. These new legal changes, spearheaded by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, aim to consolidate long-term Israeli control by shifting the governance of property law, building permits, and zoning regulations from the military's Civil Administration to direct civilian government oversight. Palestinian officials have characterized these structural shifts as a move toward 'de facto annexation,' arguing that the policies permanently alter the legal status of the occupied territory without a formal declaration. Under the new framework, the Israeli government is streamlining the process for land registration and property licensing, particularly within Area C, which constitutes some 60% of the West Bank. This shift significantly reduces the influence of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in civil matters and places decision-making power in the hands of the newly created 'Settlement Administration.' Experts suggest this bureaucratization of the occupation makes it increasingly difficult for Palestinian residents to secure building permits while simultaneously accelerating the development of Israeli settlement infrastructure and utility networks. Critics of the policy, including several international human rights organizations, warn that these administrative adjustments bypass traditional diplomatic channels and undermine the possibility of a future two-state solution. By integrating the West Bank’s planning and enforcement mechanisms into Israel's domestic ministerial apparatus, the government is creating a dual legal system that Palestinians argue is designed to squeeze their communities into disconnected enclaves. The move has sparked fresh tensions in the region as local leaders call on the international community to intervene against what they describe as a violation of international law regarding occupied territories.