Why it matters:
The draft law underscores Israel’s ongoing efforts to reshape legal frameworks in the occupied West Bank. By easing property ownership restrictions for settlers, the measure could intensify demographic and political pressures in Palestinian territories, complicating prospects for future negotiations.
The big picture:
Proposed by Likud MK Yuli Edelstein, Otzma; Yehudit MK Limor Son Har-Melech, and Religious Zionism MK Moshe Solon, the measure passed the committee stage with four votes in favor and none opposed. The Knesset press office did not specify the number of members present.
Key points:
Under Knesset rules, bills pass at the committee level by a majority of those in attendance, regardless of quorum.
The measure seeks to repeal a 1953 Jordanian regulation that restricts property sales to non-Arabs in the West Bank. If passed, it would allow anyone to purchase real estate in the territory.
What's next:
Supporters characterize the bill as a necessary removal of outdated restrictions, while critics warn that it accelerates settlement expansion and undermines Palestinian territorial claims
Go deeper:
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