Israel Seizes Largest West Bank Land Tract in Decades, Sparking Outrage A settlement monitoring group has condemned Israel’s recent seizure of a vast area of land in the occupied West Bank, describing it as the largest such land grab in three decades. According to Peace Now, an Israeli non-governmental organization, the Israeli government has issued military orders designating over 3,000 acres of land near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem as “state land.” The land was previously under private Palestinian ownership. The move has been met with widespread condemnation from Palestinian officials and international rights groups. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called it “a violation of international law and an attempt to eliminate the possibility of a viable Palestinian state.” Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the land seizure was “part of a systematic and discriminatory policy by the Israeli government to dispossess Palestinians of their land and expand illegal settlements.” The United Nations described the land grabs as “illegal and deeply damaging to the prospects for peace.” The UN Security Council has repeatedly called for an end to Israel’s settlement expansion in the West Bank, which it considers to be a violation of international law. Peace Now said the land seizure was part of a wider plan by the Israeli government to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. The group warned that such a move would “make a two-state solution impossible.” The seizure of land has also raised concerns about the future of the two-state solution, which has long been the international consensus for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By creating new settlement blocs, Israel is making it increasingly difficult for a viable Palestinian state to emerge. The land seizure comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. The two sides have been locked in a cycle of violence and retaliation, with hundreds of Palestinians killed and thousands injured in Israeli military operations. The latest land grab is likely to further exacerbate tensions and make a peaceful resolution of the conflict even more elusive.Israel’s Largest Land Seizure in West Bank in DecadesIsrael’s Largest Land Seizure in West Bank in Decades Israel has approved the confiscation of 12.7 square kilometers of land in the Jordan Valley, making it the largest land seizure in the occupied West Bank in over three decades, according to Peace Now, a settlement monitoring group. This move adds to already escalating tensions over Israeli settlements in the region. Background The Jordan Valley is located in the northern part of the West Bank, where Israel has been pursuing a policy of settlement expansion and confiscating Palestinian land. Despite international condemnation and pressure, Israel continues to build settlements in the occupied territories, which are considered illegal under international law. Details of the Seizure The recent land seizure was approved late last month and only published on Wednesday. The expropriated land is adjacent to each other, located northeast of Ramallah, the headquarters of the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. By declaring these areas as state land, Israel has opened them up for leasing to Israeli settlers and banned private Palestinian ownership. Implications Palestinians and many international observers view Israel’s settlement expansion as a major obstacle to a lasting peace agreement. The ongoing Israeli military raids and Palestinian attacks have further exacerbated tensions in the region. The recent land seizure has also sparked fears of further displacement and dispossession of Palestinians. International Criticism Human rights organizations have accused Israel of apartheid in the West Bank, citing its dominance and oppression of Palestinians living under Israeli military rule. The recent land seizure has drawn further international criticism, with many countries calling for its reversal and an end to Israel’s settlement activities. Israeli Perspective Israel’s far-right government, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, supports settlement expansion and land confiscation. Smotrich has outlined plans to seize at least 15 square kilometers of land in the West Bank this year and crack down on Palestinian construction. Ongoing Conflict The land seizure comes amid ongoing violence and conflict in the Gaza Strip. Hamas, the militant group ruling Gaza, cited West Bank settlement expansion as one of the justifications for the recent rocket attacks on Israel. Israel has launched a massive offensive in response, causing widespread devastation and displacing thousands of Palestinians.Israel has carried out its largest land seizure in the occupied West Bank in three decades, according to a settlement monitoring group. The announcement by the Israeli Civil Administration, a body under the Defense Ministry that oversees civilian affairs in the occupied territories, was made on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. The Israeli government has been gradually expanding settlements in the West Bank since it occupied the territory in the 1967 war. The settlements are illegal under international law, and their expansion has been condemned by the international community. The latest land seizure involves an area of 9,400 dunams (2,323 acres) in the southern West Bank, near the Palestinian city of Hebron. The area is home to several Palestinian villages and communities, including Susiya, which has been the site of repeated Israeli demolitions. The settlement monitoring group Peace Now said that the land seizure was the largest in the West Bank since 1991. The group said that the seizure would have a devastating impact on the Palestinian communities in the area, and would make it more difficult for them to access their land and water resources. The Israeli government has not yet commented on the land seizure. However, in the past, the government has said that the settlements are necessary for Israel’s security. The Palestinian Authority has condemned the land seizure, and called on the international community to take action to stop Israel’s illegal settlement expansion.