Israel Declares Nearly 3,000 Acres in Jordan Valley as State Land, Sparking Outcry
Last month, the Civil Administration, which oversees civilian affairs in the West Bank, designated a substantial parcel of land—2,965 acres in the Jordan Valley—as state land. This move sets the stage for future development and intensifies the regional geopolitical dynamics. The IDF announced this in a publication on Wednesday.
According to the advocacy group Peace Now, which opposes West Bank settlements, this designation is the largest since the 1993 Oslo Accords. The Jordan Valley land joins other significant parcels designated earlier this year, including 1,976 acres in March, 650 acres east of Jerusalem in February, and 42 acres in the Etzion Bloc in April, bringing the total land designated in 2024 to an unprecedented 5,852 acres.
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Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also holds considerable authority over West Bank civilian matters through a position in the Defense Ministry, has championed these developments. He aligns them with the broader government agenda to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. His remarks came as the Civil Administration’s Higher Planning Committee convened to discuss approving over 6,000 housing units across various West Bank settlements, including some units in previously illegal outposts now set for legalization.
