Israel resumes contentious West Bank land registration in new step to deepen control

Israel is resuming a land registration process in the occupied West Bank that critics say can shift large areas into state control. On Sunday, the Cabinet approved a decision to restart the process, which means Israeli authorities can declare an area up for registration. The Peace Now settlement watchdog says the process likely amounts to a large land grab from Palestinians. The decision is the latest step to deepen Israeli control over the West Bank. The proposal had been put forward by some of Israel’s far-right members of the ruling coalition.