Be it God’s Promise from the Nile to the Euphrates; the repeal of a Jordanian land law that prohibited the sale of land to Jewish buyers; the transfer of planning and construction authority around the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron and Rachel’s Tomb near Bethlehem to their rightful descendants – there is little evidence of annexation.

Israel Katz and Betzalel Smotrich during a ceremony at the Israeli Ministry of Transport in 2019. Image: Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90

Jerusalem: Over the weekend, the Israeli government adopted far-reaching decisions regarding the administration of Judea and Samaria. Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich pushed through measures in the cabinet that sustainably alter the legal and administrative status of the West Bank. According to government sources, existing regulations are to remove “discriminatory restrictions” and secure Israel’s presence in the area over the long term.

A Jordanian Nazi law in the heart of Israel

Among the key decisions is the opening of previously closed land registries and the easing of restrictions on real estate transactions. A Jordanian land law that had prohibited the sale of land to Jewish buyers was repealed, allowing Jewish purchasers to acquire land like within Israel. In addition, authority over planning and construction in sensitive areas —including around religiously significant sites such as the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron and Rachel’s Tomb near Bethlehem— was transferred to Israeli authorities, the descendants. A state committee for land acquisitions that has been inactive for years is to be reactivated.

Furthermore, the package of measures provides stricter enforcement against construction deemed illegal, including in zones that, under the Oslo Accords, are formally under Palestinian civil administration. Government officials emphasize that this does not constitute a formal annexation, but rather administrative decisions within an existing security framework.

International reactions

Internationally, the decisions were met with sharp criticism. The Palestinian Authority described them as a “dangerous step toward annexation” and accused Israel of systematically undermining existing agreements. Jordan also voiced strong concerns and warned of further destabilization of the region.

From Washington and Brussels came cautionary statements: several Western diplomats said the measures contradicted international law and made a negotiated two-state solution more difficult. Israeli government representatives rejected the criticism, arguing that the decisions were necessary to create legal clarity and to end historical inequalities.

Biblical claim to Judea and Samaria

Supporters of the policies of Katz and Smotrich cite not only security-related and historical arguments, but also the Bible. In religious circles, Judea and Samaria are regarded as the heartland of biblical Israel. Frequently cited passages include:

“On that day Jehovah made a Covenant with Abram, saying: ‘To your seed I will give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.’”

The Torah, Genesis 15:18

“Set out and go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country, in the Shephelah, in the Negeb and along the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. See! I have given you the land. Go in and take possession of the land that Jehovah swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give to them and to their offspring.”

The Torah, Deuteronomy 1:7–8

Critics argue that religious texts cannot serve as a basis for modern international law. Supporters, by contrast, see in them a historical and moral —if not the only relevant— legitimation of Jewish claims to the territory.

Political implications

Whether the decisions will ultimately lead to a formal change in status remains open. What is clear, however, is that they are likely to further intensify tensions between Israel and the international community —and once again place the future of Judea and Samaria at the center of political debate.

All Praise to Jehovah.

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By Okay Altinisik | 9-2-2026, 16:09:24