In a significant development regarding Israeli policy in the occupied West Bank, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has endorsed the government’s recent move to extend civil control over the territory. This endorsement, reported by i24News, represents a notable shift given her past clashes with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the architect of the controversial measures.
The cabinet approved the sweeping changes on Sunday, which effectively expand Israel’s civil authority in Areas A and B of the West Bank—regions that have been under Palestinian Authority jurisdiction since the 1993 Oslo Accords. During the meeting, Smotrich acknowledged potential international objections but asserted the measures’ compliance with international law as interpreted by Israel’s Ministry of Justice.
Baharav-Miara reinforced Smotrich’s position, confirming to ministers that his assessment was “correct” and that all approved measures aligned with this legal interpretation. She added that prepared responses were available for any foreign criticism.
The attorney general’s support surprised many cabinet members, considering her status as a controversial figure within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Previously, the cabinet had voted unanimously to dismiss Baharav-Miara in August, but Israel’s Supreme Court immediately blocked this decision.
The policy changes include facilitating land ownership for Jewish Israelis in the West Bank by removing restrictions on selling Palestinian-owned land, easing sales regulations, and making land registration records public. Critics warn these measures could accelerate settlement expansion and potentially enable document forgery in land purchases.
International response has been swift and critical. Multiple nations, including the UK and United States, have condemned the move and warned against annexation of occupied territories, which violates international law. The European Union, United Nations, and eight Muslim-majority countries—Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates—have denounced the measures as imposing “unlawful Israeli sovereignty” in the West Bank. Analysts suggest these changes may effectively cement de facto annexation and signal the end of the Oslo Accords framework.