Israel Expands West Bank Control as PA Crumbles and Global Condemnation Grows
Updated (2 articles)
Israeli legislative and settlement surge reshapes West Bank The Knesset approved measures that lift restrictions on land acquisition in Areas A and B, while a new land‑registration system is described by a UN official as “gradual, de facto annexation” [2][1]. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly pledged to “kill” the idea of a Palestinian state and threatened to cancel the Oslo accords if his party stays in power [1]. Settler outposts have intensified raids on al‑Mughayyir village, seizing farmland and forcing school closures whenever soldiers or settlers are present [1].
Palestinian Authority faces unprecedented fiscal collapse Since the October 7 attacks, roughly 100,000 Palestinians lost work permits and Israel withheld tax transfers, leaving the PA with a $4 billion shortfall and paying only 60 % of civil‑service salaries [1]. Schools for over 600,000 children operate three days a week, and many families hire private tutors because literacy levels have dropped to below fourth‑grade standards [1]. Former minister Sabri Saidam warned the Authority’s existence is now doubtful, raising fears of a power vacuum that could fuel radicalization [1].
Broad international coalition condemns Israeli land policies Over 80 UN member states, the EU, the Arab League and the BRICS founders denounced Israel’s land‑registration move as a violation of international law [1][2]. India added its signature to an 85‑country statement on February 18, aligning with the Arab League, Quad partners and other nations ahead of a UN meeting [2]. Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour warned the measures aim to alter the demographic composition of territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem [2].
India’s endorsement sparks domestic diplomatic debate Former Ambassador to Iran K.C. Singh called India’s delayed signing “regrettable,” suggesting it sides with Israel, while ex‑Foreign Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao cautioned against hedging on normative positions [2]. The endorsement coincided with speculation about Prime Minister Modi’s first Israel visit since 2017 and recent U.S.–led peace initiatives, which the Indian foreign ministry denied were influencing the decision [2].
Sources
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1.
BBC: Israel deepens hold on West Bank as Palestinian Authority teeters – Highlights intensified settler incursions, PA’s financial collapse, Smotrich’s anti‑statehood vow, and UN condemnation of new land policies .
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2.
The Hindu: India Joins Global Criticism of Israel’s West Bank Moves – Details India’s signing of an 85‑nation statement, the broader diplomatic coalition condemning Israel, and internal criticism of the endorsement .
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Timeline
1967 – Israel occupies the West Bank, East Jerusalem and other territories during the Six‑Day War, a status that underpins current disputes over land and annexation attempts, as highlighted by Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour [2].
Oct 7, 2023 – Hamas attacks trigger Israel to suspend work permits for about 100,000 Palestinians and withhold tax transfers, leaving the Palestinian Authority owing over $4 billion and forcing schools to operate only three days a week for more than 600,000 children [1].
July 2017 – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes his first official visit to Israel, a diplomatic milestone referenced in discussions of his planned return after a seven‑year gap [2].
Jan 31, 2026 – Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets the Arab League and Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, signaling India’s heightened engagement ahead of a UN meeting and a U.S.–led Board of Peace session [2].
Feb 17, 2026 – An 85‑nation declaration condemns Israel’s unilateral actions that expand its unlawful presence in the West Bank, citing violations of international law and warning against annexation [2].
Feb 18, 2026 – India adds its signature to the joint statement, joining 84 other countries in denouncing Israel’s land‑registration moves and calling for an end to de facto annexation efforts [2].
Early Feb 2026 – The Israeli Knesset passes legislation easing land acquisition by outsiders and tightening documentation checks in West Bank Areas A and B, steps described as precursors to annexation [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Former Indian diplomats criticize the delayed endorsement, with ex‑Ambassador K.C. Singh calling it “regrettable… choosing the Israeli corner” and ex‑Foreign Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao warning against hedging on normative positions [2].
Feb 21, 2026 – A senior UN official warns that Israel’s new land‑registration process amounts to “gradual, de facto annexation,” prompting condemnation from over 80 UN member states, the EU and the Arab League [1].
Feb 21, 2026 – Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich declares his goal to “kill” the idea of a Palestinian state, pledges to cancel the Oslo accords if his party stays in government, and frames Palestinians as “the enemy” [1].
Feb 21, 2026 – Settler incursions intensify in al‑Mughayyir village, with Israeli army raids and new outposts seizing farmland; a mother of eight reports school closures whenever settlers or soldiers are nearby, forcing families to hire private teachers for basic literacy [1].
Feb 21, 2026 – The Palestinian Authority’s fiscal crisis deepens as Israel withholds tax revenues and work permits, leaving it able to pay only 60 % of civil‑service salaries and limiting education to three days per week for over 600,000 children [1].
Feb 21, 2026 – Former PA minister Sabri Saidam warns that the Authority’s existence is now questionable, while an Israeli official labels it “corrupt and morally bankrupt,” raising fears of a power vacuum that could push Palestinians toward radical options [1].
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- https://t.co/A8wstsvxYJ (cited 1 times)