UN Secretary General Condemns Israel for Registering West Bank as 'State Land'

Antara Photo

JAKARTA - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday (16/2) condemned Israel's decision to classify a number of occupied territories in the West Bank as "state land."

"The Secretary-General condemns the decision of the Israeli authorities on February 15 to continue the land registration procedure in Area C of the occupied West Bank, following the cabinet decision in May 2025," Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric told a news conference.

Dujarric warned that the move could strip Palestinians of their property and expand Israel's control over land in the area.

"Such steps, including the continuation of Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territories, are not only destabilizing but also, as the International Court of Justice has reminded, unlawful," Dujarric said.

The statement came a day after the Israeli government approved a proposal to register Palestinian land in the West Bank as "state land."

Israeli public broadcasting media reported that the proposal was submitted by Bezalel Smotrich's finance chief, justice chief Yariv Levin, and Israel's defense chief Katz.

Palestinians view the move as a prelude to a formal annexation of the West Bank and as part of a de facto annexation of most of the territory - a move that is seen as undermining the UN-backed two-state solution.

Guterres called on Israel to "immediately reverse these measures," warning that "the current direction of the situation on the ground is eroding the prospects for a two-state solution."

"The Secretary-General reiterates that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as the regime associated with it, have no legal validity and are a flagrant violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions," Dujarric told reporters.

He also conveyed that Guterres called on all parties to "preserve the only path to lasting peace, namely the two-state solution through negotiations, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions and international law."

The West Bank, based on the 1993 Oslo II Agreement, is divided into three administrative areas, namely areas A, B, and C. This division was originally intended as a temporary transition for the transfer of control to the Palestinian Authority, but in reality it remains permanent to this day.

Area A, covers about 18 percent of the West Bank (including Palestinian major cities), where the Palestinian Authority has full control over civil affairs and security.

Area B covers about 22 percent of the territory, where the Palestinian Authority holds civilian control, but security is under joint Palestinian-Israeli control.

Area C covers about 60 percent of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli control for both security and civilian affairs (including settlements and infrastructure).

Israeli authorities continue to demolish Palestinian homes and buildings throughout the West Bank on the grounds of not having permits, amid policies that Palestinians consider very restrictive and difficult to obtain building permits.

According to the Commission for the Resistance to Colonization and the Wall, a Palestinian government agency, Israel carried out 538 demolitions throughout 2025, affecting around 1,400 houses and buildings.

The figure is an unprecedented increase compared to previous years.