Israel eases Jewish land purchases in West Bank

The Israeli cabinet approved changes to land registration and permitting in the occupied West Bank that allow Israeli Jews to buy property, open land registries to the public, and transfer building-permit authority in parts of Hebron to Israeli authorities.

The Israeli cabinet approved changes to land registration procedures in the occupied West Bank. The rules allow Israeli Jews to purchase property in the territory and open land registries to public access. The cabinet transferred authority over building permits for illegal Jewish settlements in Hebron and for the Ibrahimi Mosque compound from the Palestinian Hebron municipality to Israeli authorities. Public access to registries makes owner records more readily discoverable.