International Condemnation Mounts as Israel Registers West Bank Land as ‘State Property’

Riyadh – A wave of condemnation has swept across the Middle East and internationally following Israel’s decision to approve the registration of vast tracts of land in the occupied West Bank as “state property.” Countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey have denounced the move as a violation of international law and a dangerous escalation of tensions.

Saudi Arabia Leads Regional Criticism

The Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s actions as an attempt to “impose a new legal and administrative reality on the occupied West Bank,” undermining efforts towards regional peace and stability. The Ministry affirmed that “Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories” and expressed its “absolute rejection of these illegal steps,” which it characterized as a “grave violation of international law.”

Saudi Arabia further stated that the move undermines the two-state solution and infringes upon the Palestinian people’s right to establish an independent state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan Join the Chorus of Condemnation

Egypt’s government described the Israeli decision as a “dangerous escalation aimed at consolidating Israel’s control over the occupied Palestinian territories.” The Egyptian Foreign Ministry labeled the actions a “blatant violation” of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention and UN Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016).

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the move as an extension of an “illegal plan to deprive the Palestinian people of their rights,” calling for international solidarity to pressure Israel to halt the process and avoid “serious repercussions.”

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the decision “in the strongest terms,” deeming it a “blatant violation of international law.”

Turkey and Palestinian Authority React Strongly

Turkey also condemned the move as an attempt to impose Israeli authority over the West Bank and expand settlement activity, calling it “null and void” and reiterating that Israel holds no sovereignty over the occupied territories. Ankara criticized Israel’s expansionist policies for undermining peace efforts and the prospects for a two-state solution.

The Palestinian Authority warned that Israel’s move constitutes “de facto annexation” and a violation of international law, appealing for international intervention to prevent what it described as the beginning of an annexation process and a weakening of the foundations of a future Palestinian state.

Israel Defends the Land Registration Process

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the measure, approved on Sunday, February 15, 2026, aims to “enable transparent and thorough clarification of rights to resolve legal disputes” and was necessitated by unlawful land registration within areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA). The decision revives “settlement of land title” processes that had been frozen since Israel’s occupation of the West Bank in 1967.

Concerns over Settlement Expansion

The Israeli anti-settlement watchdog organization, Peace Now, condemned the move as a “massive land grab.” The proposal was reportedly initiated by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defense Minister Israel Katz.