Jerusalem: The Israeli Knesset's so-called Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved on Sunday a draft bill that would allow colonists to purchase land in the occupied West Bank. This move contradicts international law and is seen as a step toward implementing annexation plans and enabling the falsification of land purchase contracts.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the proposed bill was introduced by Knesset member Moshe Solomon of the Religious Zionist Party and endorsed by 40 members of the Knesset's Land of Israel Lobby. It is set to be presented for a vote before the Knesset Plenum. The proposed legislation asserts that anyone can purchase real estate rights in the region, similar to how they would elsewhere.
The Ministerial Committee discussed this bill in mid-November, but instead of deciding to refer it to the Knesset for a vote, it opted to revisit the matter today.
The Israeli rights group, Peace Now, stated that the bill, titled "Elimination of the Discrimination in the Purchase of Real Estate in Judea and Samaria," was previously proposed by MK Bezalel Smotrich. It aims to facilitate settlers' ability to purchase properties and land across almost the entire West Bank without supervision or restrictions, thereby opening the door to questionable deals and forgeries.
The group further explained that the bill would allow a small number of extremist settlers to acquire land and establish settlements, whether in the heart of Hebron or elsewhere. Peace Now emphasized that the Knesset lacks the authority to legislate laws for areas not under Israeli sovereignty. The attempt to apply Knesset laws to the occupied territory constitutes annexation and a violation of international law.