A White House official reiterated on Monday that US President Donald Trump opposes Israel extending sovereignty to Judea and Samaria, underscoring the administration’s position amid recent Israeli government decisions affecting the area.

“A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region,” the official said in remarks to the Reuters news agency.

The statement followed Israeli cabinet approvals a day earlier of a series of moves expected to significantly alter the legal and civil framework in Judea and Samaria, with an emphasis on cutting red tape and speeding up settlement growth.

The initiatives, advanced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, are designed to roll back regulations dating to the Jordanian period and to modernize land administration. Among the central steps is the declassification of land registry records that had long been kept sealed, a change intended to increase transparency and enable lawful property transactions.

In addition, ministers voted to abolish the prohibition on selling real estate to Jews, nullifying a Jordanian-era law that barred such sales. Under the new policy, Jewish purchasers will be able to buy land through procedures closer to those used inside central Israel. Authority over planning in Jewish areas near Hebron’s Cave of the Patriarchs was also shifted to the Civil Administration, a move expected to simplify and accelerate planning approvals.

Further cabinet actions include enhancing the administrative status of Rachel’s Tomb to improve the delivery of municipal services, expanding state enforcement powers in Areas A and B for environmental and legal matters, and reviving a land acquisition committee that had been inactive for years in order to secure land for future settlement activity.

Trump has previously made his position clear on the issue. In September, he told reporters that he would “not allow” Israel to move forward with sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.

“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. No, I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen,” Trump said at the time when asked directly about the matter.

When questioned about whether he had discussed the issue with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Trump responded, “Yeah, but I’m not going to allow it,” reiterating his firm stance.

{Matzav.com}