Escalation of West Bank Annexation Measures (Feb 2026): UPSC Current Affairs Story Arc

Overview

This arc tracks the rapid escalation of Israeli control over the West Bank between late 2025 and early 2026. What began as a security cabinet decision in October 2025 to 'tighten control' culminated in February 2026 with specific administrative takeovers in Areas A and B—territories historically under Palestinian Authority (PA) jurisdiction. The measures include radical changes to land registration and the withholding of Palestinian clearance revenues. This move has triggered a rare alignment of opposition: the UN warns of the death of the 'Two-State Solution,' the Palestinian Cabinet has ceased engagement with Israeli institutions, and the US White House has explicitly refused to endorse the annexation. For India, this complicates the 'de-hyphenated' policy as regional stability in West Asia is vital for projects like the IMEC corridor.

How This Story Evolved

Israel approves tightening control (Oct 2025) → Cabinet authorizes specific Area A/B measures (Feb 9) → US/PA reject measures & details emerge (Feb 10) → International rebuke follows (Feb 11)

1. 2025-10-14: Israel's Security Cabinet Approves Measures to Tighten Control Over West Bank
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   UPSC Angle: Israel's security cabinet approves measures to tighten control over West Bank.

   Key Facts:

   • October 14, 2025
   • Israel
   • security cabinet
   • West Bank
   • Palestinian Authority
2. 2026-02-09: UN Warns Israeli Cabinet Decision Threatens Two-State Solution
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   UPSC Angle: UN warns Israeli cabinet decision threatens two-state solution.

   Key Facts:

   • UN Secretary-General expressed grave concern over the Israeli security cabinet’s decision
   • Decision authorizes administrative and enforcement measures in Areas A and B of the occupied West Bank
   • Secretary-General called on Israel to reverse these measures
   • Preserve the path to a negotiated two-State solution
3. 2026-02-10: Trump Administration Opposes West Bank Annexation
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Trump Administration opposes West Bank Annexation.

   Key Facts:

   • White House does not endorse Israel's decision to expand control over the West Bank
   • President Trump does not support Israel annexing the West Bank
   • Cabinet decision announced by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich
   • Changes introduce significant changes to land registration and governance procedures
   • Measures will make previously restricted land registries publicly accessible
   • Measures rescind Jordanian-era laws prohibiting land sales to Jews
   • Measures broaden Israeli civil and law enforcement authority in Areas A and B
   • Measures reinstate the Land Acquisition Commission
   • Measures transfer planning oversight in parts of Hebron from the Palestinian municipality to the Israeli Civil Administration
4. 2026-02-10: Palestinian Cabinet Rejects Israeli Measures
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Palestinian Cabinet rejects Israeli measures.

   Key Facts:

   • Palestinian Cabinet rejects decisions by the Israeli Knesset and government aimed at obstructing the Palestinian State
   • Rejects settlement expansion and withholding clearance revenues
   • Instructs institutions not to engage with Israeli measures and adhere to Palestinian laws
   • Reiterates rejection of any infringement on the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites
   • Rejects the transfer of authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque

Genesis

Trigger

On October 14, 2025, Israel's security cabinet approved measures to deepen control over the West Bank and weaken the Palestinian Authority's already limited powers.

Why Now

The push is driven by a domestic political shift within the Israeli cabinet, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, aimed at creating 'irreversible facts on the ground' regarding land ownership.

Historical Context

The West Bank was divided into Areas A, B, and C under the 1993/1995 Oslo Accords. Area A was under full Palestinian control; the Feb 2026 measures represent a direct breach of these international agreements.

Key Turning Points

1. [2025-10-14] Security Cabinet approval of 'Tightened Control'

   Shifted Israeli policy from managing the conflict to actively dismantling Palestinian administrative autonomy.

   Before: Status quo under Oslo Accords. After: Strategic intent to weaken the PA becomes official policy.

2. [2026-02-10] Land Registry Transparency Measure

   Making restricted registries public is a technical precursor to mass land seizures and settlement legalization.

   Before: Land records were largely confidential or restricted. After: Open registries allow for rapid Israeli administrative claims on West Bank land.

Key Actors and Institutions

Key Institutions

• Palestinian Authority (PA)
• Israeli Security Cabinet
• United Nations (UN)
• The White House

Key Concepts

Two-State Solution

A proposed diplomatic resolution envisioning an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel, west of the Jordan River.

Current Fact: On Feb 9, 2026, the UN Secretary-General warned that Israeli measures in Areas A and B 'threaten' the viability of this solution.

Areas A and B

Jurisdictional zones in the West Bank; Area A is under PA civil and security control, while Area B is under PA civil control and Israeli security control.

Current Fact: The Israeli cabinet authorized 'administrative and enforcement measures' specifically within these areas on Feb 9, 2026.

Clearance Revenues

Taxes and customs duties collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, which constitute a major part of the PA budget.

Current Fact: The Palestinian Cabinet rejected Israel's decision to 'withhold clearance revenues' as of Feb 10, 2026.

What Happens Next

Current Status

As of February 10, 2026, the Palestinian Cabinet has formally rejected all Israeli measures, instructed its institutions to boycott the new land registration procedures, and is resisting the transfer of authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque.

Likely Next

Expect a legal challenge in international courts (ICJ/ICC) and a potential collapse of Palestinian security cooperation, which could lead to an uprising (Intifada-like conditions).

Wildcards

A sudden shift in US policy if the Trump administration's current 'opposition' pivots back to settlement support, or a unified Arab League economic sanction regime against Israel.

Why UPSC Cares

Syllabus Topics

• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India

Essay Angles

• The erosion of international law in the 21st century: The case of the West Bank
• Sovereignty vs. Administrative Control: Modern challenges to statehood

Prelims Likely: Yes

Mains Likely: Yes

Trend Signal: rising

Exam Intelligence

Previous Year Question Connections

• Identified 'two-state solution' in the context of Israel. — The 2026 arc shows the functional end-stage of the two-state solution as Israel moves administrative control into Areas A and B.
• Tested Israel's diplomatic relations with Arab states and the Arab Peace Initiative. — The 2026 annexation measures directly jeopardize the normalization gains (Abraham Accords) tested in 2023.

Prelims Angles

• Specific geographical location of the Ibrahimi Mosque (Hebron) and its administrative status.
• Difference between Area A, B, and C under the Oslo Accords.
• Definitions of 'Clearance Revenues' in the context of Israel-Palestine economic protocols.

Mains Preparation

Sample Question: Critically analyze how the Israeli cabinet’s 2026 administrative measures in Areas A and B of the West Bank signal a departure from the Oslo Accords and evaluate its impact on India's 'West Asia' policy.

Answer Structure: Intro: Define the 2026 measures. Body 1: Explain the shift from military to administrative control (Land Registries). Body 2: International response (UN, US, PA). Body 3: India's dilemma—balancing ties with Israel while supporting Palestinian statehood. Conclusion: Need for a rules-based international order.

Essay Topic: The sunset of the Two-State Solution: Implications for global security.

Textbook Connections

Key Takeaway

The Feb 2026 measures represent a 'technical annexation' by replacing military decrees with civilian administrative law in Palestinian-governed zones, effectively ending the Oslo era.

All Events in This Story (4 items)

1. 2025-10-14 [International Relations] — Israel's Security Cabinet Approves Measures to Tighten Control Over West Bank
   On October 14, 2025, Israel's security cabinet approved measures that aim to deepen Israeli control over the occupied West Bank and weaken the already limited powers of the Palestinian Authority.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Israel's security cabinet approves measures to tighten control over West Bank.

   Key Facts:

   • October 14, 2025
   • Israel
   • security cabinet
   • West Bank
   • Palestinian Authority
2. 2026-02-09 [International Relations] — UN Warns Israeli Cabinet Decision Threatens Two-State Solution
   The UN Secretary-General expressed grave concern over the Israeli security cabinet's decision to authorize administrative and enforcement measures in Areas A and B of the occupied West Bank. The Secretary-General called on Israel to reverse these measures and preserve the path to a negotiated two-State solution.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: UN warns Israeli cabinet decision threatens two-state solution.

   Key Facts:

   • UN Secretary-General expressed grave concern over the Israeli security cabinet’s decision
   • Decision authorizes administrative and enforcement measures in Areas A and B of the occupied West Bank
   • Secretary-General called on Israel to reverse these measures
   • Preserve the path to a negotiated two-State solution
3. 2026-02-10 [International Relations] — Trump Administration Opposes West Bank Annexation
   The White House stated it does not endorse Israel's decision to expand control over the West Bank, with President Trump having stated he does not support Israel annexing the West Bank. The Israeli cabinet's decision, announced by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, introduces changes to land registration and governance procedures.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Trump Administration opposes West Bank Annexation.

   Key Facts:

   • White House does not endorse Israel's decision to expand control over the West Bank
   • President Trump does not support Israel annexing the West Bank
   • Cabinet decision announced by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich
   • Changes introduce significant changes to land registration and governance procedures
   • Measures will make previously restricted land registries publicly accessible
   • Measures rescind Jordanian-era laws prohibiting land sales to Jews
   • Measures broaden Israeli civil and law enforcement authority in Areas A and B
   • Measures reinstate the Land Acquisition Commission
   • Measures transfer planning oversight in parts of Hebron from the Palestinian municipality to the Israeli Civil Administration
4. 2026-02-10 [International Relations] — Palestinian Cabinet Rejects Israeli Measures
   The Palestinian Cabinet has rejected decisions by the Israeli Knesset and government aimed at obstructing the Palestinian State, including settlement expansion and withholding clearance revenues, instructing institutions not to engage with these measures and adhere to Palestinian laws. The Cabinet reiterated its rejection of any infringement on the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites, particularly the transfer of authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Palestinian Cabinet rejects Israeli measures.

   Key Facts:

   • Palestinian Cabinet rejects decisions by the Israeli Knesset and government aimed at obstructing the Palestinian State
   • Rejects settlement expansion and withholding clearance revenues
   • Instructs institutions not to engage with Israeli measures and adhere to Palestinian laws
   • Reiterates rejection of any infringement on the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites
   • Rejects the transfer of authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque