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3. Israel Tightens Control With West Bank Land Policy Change and Citizenship Revocations

This week, Israel strengthened its control over territory under its authority with new measures on West Bank land acquisition policies and citizenship revocations.

The Israeli security cabinet approved measures to modify Israel’s land acquisition policy in the West Bank, allowing for individual Israelis to purchase land directly rather than through registered companies on Israeli-controlled territory. Officials stated that the changes were carried out to address a “racial distortion” preventing non-Arabs from purchasing real estate and bolster transparency, according to the BBC

The new policy risks further limiting Palestinian property rights and ability to contest the seizure of land by West Bank settlers. Similarly, the move bypasses the Palestinian Authority by increasing civilian autonomy within Areas C, under full Israeli military control, in the West Bank. 

Rights groups, the Palestinian Authority, and international actors have expressed concern that the change in land acquisition laws brings the West Bank closer to Israeli annexation.

Regarding these developments, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas spoke to reporters and called for a “firm” response from the U.S. on Israel’s policy change in the West Bank

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered two Arab-Israelis to be stripped of their citizenship and deported on terrorism-related charges. 

The Knesset passed a law in February 2023 to expand the grounds to revoke citizenship or residency from people convicted of certain offences, and this week was the first time it was utilized. Human rights advocates warn that this sets a dangerous precedent for the rights of Arab-Israelis and Palestinians in areas under Israeli control.

With Israel going into elections, Netanyahu has emphasized on his platform that he would oppose any measures that make way for a Palestinian state on the grounds of security threats against the country. The tightening of control over the West Bank and putting the citizenship-revoking law to practice are means of signaling an anti-two-state policy as Netanyahu shores up his base.