In a Series of Cabinet Decisions, Israel Reclaims Its Biblical Heartland

Israel’s Political-Security Cabinet yesterday (Monday) approved a series of far-reaching decisions advanced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz. These measures fundamentally alter the legal and civil landscape in Judea and Samaria. Formulated under the leadership of the Settlement Administration within the Ministry of Defense, they are intended to remove decades-old obstacles, repeal discriminatory Jordanian legislation, and enable accelerated development of Jewish communities in the area.

Judea and Samaria were taken over by Jordanian forces during Israel’s War of Independence in 1948, and reconquered by Israeli forces in the Six Day War. Since then, the area has been governed by a pastiche of older laws and military administration rather than regular civil law, in large part because various Israeli governments contemplated handing over some or all of the territory in a peace deal, and treated its governance as temporary.

Easing the Purchase of Homes in Judea and Samaria

One of the most significant changes concerns land administration. Up till now, and unlike within Israel’s pre-1967 lines, land registries in Judea and Samaria were confidential, something that complicated land purchase and enabled fraud. The Cabinet has now ordered the removal of confidentiality and the publication of land registries, a move expected to increase transparency and facilitate the redemption of land.

In addition, the Cabinet repealed the Jordanian law prohibiting the sale of land to Jews. Incredibly, this law was still nominally in place, with Jewish buyers forced to purchase land through registered companies, subject to a cumbersome “transaction permit” from the Civil Administration. Going forwards, the requirement for a transaction permit has been abolished, as is the ban on sale to foreigners, thus allowing Jews to purchase land in Judea and Samaria just as they would in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. The requirement for a transaction license from the Officer for Land Registration has also been canceled; in its place, professional threshold criteria will be set, removing a major barrier in the local real-estate market.

Another strategic decision is the renewal of the Land Acquisition Committee. This mechanism, which ceased to operate around twenty years ago, will now be reactivated, enabling the State of Israel to proactively purchase land in Judea and Samaria, and ensuring land reserves for Jewish settlement for generations to come.

Authority in the City of the Patriarchs

An equally dramatic decision was made regarding Hebron, City of the Patriarchs. The Cabinet approved the transfer of building-permit authority for the Jewish community, the Cave of the Patriarchs, and other holy sites in the city from the municipal authority to the planning institutions of the Civil Administration.

This means there will no longer be a need for ad-hoc “delegations of authority” every time accessibility improvements are needed at the Cave or construction is planned for Jews in the city. Planning processes will become efficient and independent. In addition, full municipal powers were granted to the Hebron Administration, enabling it to directly address residents’ needs and prevent hazards, without relying on Palestinian mechanisms that until now necessitated complex and frustrating procedures.

The Rachel’s Tomb complex also received a civil upgrade as part of the decision. Due to its location within the municipal boundaries of Bethlehem, the site has long suffered from a lack of basic services. The Cabinet approved the establishment of a dedicated municipal administration for the Rachel’s Tomb compound, responsible for cleanliness, waste removal, landscaping, and ongoing maintenance.

“Judea and Samaria Are the Heart of the Land”

In parallel, the state is stepping up enforcement to protect heritage sites and the environment. The Cabinet decided to expand inspection and enforcement activities – including in Areas A and B – regarding water violations, damage to archaeological sites, and environmental hazards that pollute the entire region.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Cabinet decisions strengthen Israel’s hold in Judea and Samaria and reinforce the land reclamation enterprise. “We are committed to removing obstacles, creating legal and civil certainty, and enabling residents to live, build, and develop as equals to all Israeli citizens. This is a move that strengthens security, deepens our hold on the land, and anchors the vision of settling the land as an integral part of the Government of Israel’s policy.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich added: “Today we are bringing about a true revolution. The days in which the residents of Judea and Samaria were second-class citizens, living under racist Jordanian laws, are over. We are normalizing life in Judea and Samaria, removing bureaucratic barriers, fighting for the land, and deepening our hold throughout the Land of Israel. This is the appropriate Zionist response to anyone who seeks to weaken our hold on the land. We will continue to kill the idea of a Palestinian state. We are here to stay – to build and to be built.”

Beyond the legal, civic, and strategic shifts, the region is also seeing renewed momentum on the tourism front. After more than two years of war-related stagnation, both Israeli and international visitors are steadily returning to Judea and Samaria, drawn to iconic biblical and historical sites such as Biblical Shiloh, home to the Tabernacle, Herodium, King Herod’s desert palace, Sartaba, the Hasmonean fortress of Alexandrion,  Sebastia, the capital city of the northern Kingdom of Israel, and the ancient town of Susya.

This revival was given a formal boost at the IMTM Tourism Conference in Tel Aviv, where regional authorities launched the new “Land of the Bible” initiative – an umbrella tourism brand uniting heritage sites across the region. Designed to make the biblical story accessible and immersive, the project invites travelers to quite literally walk through the pages of Scripture, from Joshua’s altar to the City of the Patriarchs, while also enjoying modern attractions, nature trails, and wineries.

As regional leaders emphasized, tourism is not only an economic engine but a powerful expression of sovereignty, rootedness, and national resilience, connecting people from Israel and around the world to the heartland of the biblical story. The greater control Israel has over its heritage sites the more welcome foreigners will be to walk in their paths and feel the Bible coming alive beneath their feet.

“And the foreigners who join with the Lord to serve Him
and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants,
everyone who observes the Sabbath from profaning it and who holds fast to My covenant. 
I will bring them to My holy mount,
and I will cause them to rejoice in My house of prayer,
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be acceptable upon My altar,
for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples”.

(Isaiah 55:6-7)