Israel expands West Bank control with land and planning measures
Israel’s security cabinet approved a package of measures to deepen Israeli control in the West Bank, including lifting a ban on land sales to Jews, declassifying land registry records, shifting planning for sensitive sites in Hebron to Israeli authorities, enforcing environmental/archeological rules in Palestinian areas, and reviving a committee to enable proactive land purchases to secure land for settlements, a move praised by settlers and condemned by Palestinians and neighbors.