Israel approves new rules hinting West Bank annexation, Palestinians concerned

The Israeli government’s recent decisions to change land registration rules in the West Bank, making it easier for Israeli Jews to buy property in the occupied territory, have raised concerns among Palestinians about de facto annexation. The new rules allow for easier access to land registries, potentially leading to harassment and pressure on Palestinian landowners. The transfer of building permit authority for Jewish settlements in Hebron to Israel signifies an increased effort to control the city, mirroring the situation at the Ibrahimi Mosque compound. Palestinians fear that the Israeli government’s actions in Hebron could set a precedent for similar takeovers in other Palestinian cities like Bethlehem.

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