The quiet conquest of the West Bank and the death of the Oslo Accords
Al Jazeera
February 19, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Israel is quietly advancing its territorial ambitions in the West Bank through a bureaucratic land grab, signaling a significant shift in its approach to controlling Palestinian territories. The Israeli government has approved a plan to register large swathes of West Bank land as "state land," effectively annexing these areas under the guise of administrative processes. This move, championed by far-right ministers like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, is part of a long-standing strategy to consolidate control over Area C, which constitutes 62% of the West Bank and remains under full Israeli military and civil authority.
The plan involves creating 35 new positions and allocating $79 million over five years for land registration. While this process has been in place since 1967, its resumption marks a significant escalation in Israel's efforts to erode Palestinian sovereignty. By shifting Area C from military to civilian governance, Israel aims to solidify its control without triggering overt international backlash. This strategy reflects a broader shift away from traditional warfare toward administrative consolidation, a tactic that aligns with the post-Oslo era's diminished appetite for large-scale conflict.
The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993 and 1995, were meant to create an interim arrangement for Palestinian self-governance. However, they left Area C under full Israeli control, setting the stage for this new phase of annexation. By registering land in Area C through the Land Title Settlement Administration, Israel is effectively rewriting the rules of ownership, favoring Jewish settlers and
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/19/2026