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Bill easing purchase of land in Judea and Samaria mulled by ministers

The proposed bill would allow anyone to purchase land in Area C regardless of the ethnic or national identity of the purchasers. 

By: World Israel News Staff

Israeli ministers are promoting a bill that would ease restrictions on the purchase of land by Jews in Area C in Judea and Samaria.

The Knesset ‘s Ministerial Legislative Committee is slated to discuss the bill on Sunday.

Area C in Judea and Samaria is under full Israeli sovereignty, as stipulated by the Oslo Accords.

The bill, put forward by Member of Knesset Bezalel Smotrich (Bayit Yehudi), aims to change a 1953 Jordanian law that prevents foreigners and non-Arabs from purchasing land in the area that was under their control at the time.

A 1971 order designed to circumvent the Jordanian law allows for a company registered to operate in Judea and Samaria to purchase property, regardless of the ethnic or national identity of the purchasers. Jews have purchased using this injection.

The proposed bill would allow anyone to directly purchase land in Area C.

Smotrich explained that it is “unacceptable” for Israeli citizens to be barred from buying land in Judea and Samaria just because they are Israeli citizens.

A second bill, also sponsored by Smotrich, would allow Kiryat Arba and the other Israeli communities in the South Hebron area to be considered part of the Negev for economic purposes.

The law would allow them to benefit from government initiatives and grants to develop the Negev.