Israel’s Cabinet on Sunday approved a series of measures aimed at deepening Israeli control over the occupied West Bank and streamlining land purchases by settlers, prompting Palestinian officials to denounce the move as a “de facto annexation.”

The West Bank is one of the territories Palestinians envision as part of a future independent state. While Israel maintains overall military authority across much of the area, limited self-governance is exercised in certain zones by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces elections later this year, has argued that the creation of a Palestinian state would pose a security risk. His governing coalition relies heavily on support from settler constituencies, and several members have openly advocated for formal annexation of the West Bank — territory Israel captured in the 1967 war and regards as having deep historical and biblical significance.

Among the measures approved is the launch of a formal land registration process for the first time since 1967. The decision comes a week after the government endorsed additional West Bank policies that drew international criticism.

“We are continuing the revolution of settlement and strengthening our hold across all parts of our land,” said far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Defense Minister Israel Katz described the land registration initiative as an essential security step. The Cabinet said in a statement that the move was also intended as a response to what it called “illegal land registration processes” carried out by the Palestinian Authority.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the policy would increase transparency and help resolve longstanding land disputes.

The Palestinian presidency sharply condemned the decision, calling it “a de facto annexation of occupied Palestinian territory” and accusing Israel of advancing plans to entrench its control through expanded settlement activity.

Settlement watchdog group Peace Now warned that the new measures could ultimately lead to the displacement of Palestinians from as much as half of the West Bank.

While President Donald Trump has said he does not support formal Israeli annexation of the West Bank, his administration has not taken steps to curb the recent acceleration of settlement construction.

In 2024, the United Nations’ top court issued a non-binding advisory opinion stating that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and the establishment of settlements there are illegal under international law and should be brought to an end. Israel has rejected that assessment.