In a groundbreaking move set to reshape the landscape of land ownership in the heart of the Jewish homeland, Israel's Ministerial Committee has approved legislation to repeal a pre-1967 Jordanian law that discriminates against Jews. Spearheaded by the Land of Israel Caucus and Knesset member Moshe Solomon, this monumental bill has garnered support from over 40 Knesset members across Israel's political spectrum, underscoring its far-reaching impact and national significance.
The End of Discriminatory Practices
The legislation, titled the “Elimination of the Discrimination in the Purchase of Real Estate in Judea and Samaria,” will finally grant Israelis the legal right to directly purchase land from Palestinian Authority citizens in Judea and Samaria. Until now, this right was obstructed by archaic Jordanian laws that required Israelis to navigate a convoluted process involving intermediaries and special permits issued by the Civil Administration.
“Eretz Israel Lobby” proposed law that would allow Jews to purchase land in Judea and Samaria without going through the Civil Administration. "This is a correction of a historical injustice, that repeals the Jordanian law.” "Peace Now" movement responded: "A de facto annexation” pic.twitter.com/F9MjI4iLir
— Philip (@rulesbasedworld) January 26, 2025
The initiative to overturn this outdated policy was previously championed by Religious Zionism leader MK Bezalel Smotrich, but it gained new momentum with Solomon’s leadership. On Sunday, January 26, the legislation cleared a critical hurdle, signaling a long-awaited victory for those who have fought tirelessly to end decades of legalized discrimination.
A Blow to the Anti-Israel Agenda
As expected, the legislation has sparked outrage from anti-Israel organizations such as Peace Now. The group described the bill as a “messianic right-wing annexation effort” and decried it as a supposed violation of international law. Their claims, however, reflect an entrenched ideological opposition to Israel’s sovereign rights over its historic and biblical heartland.
The leftist group has doubled down on its insistence that the Knesset lacks jurisdiction in territories it claims are “occupied,” despite the clear historical and legal connections Israel has to Judea and Samaria. Critics of Peace Now argue that the organization’s alarmist rhetoric is designed to delegitimize any effort to empower Jewish citizens in these regions.
Trump Administration – Execution Phase.
— Tina (@Tina34832552745) January 26, 2025
A bill proposed by MK Moshe Solomon, along with Israel Land Caucus leaders Edelstein, Rothman, and Son Har-Melech, was approved today by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation.
The bill repeals the Jordanian law and allows Jews to…
Regavim and Sovereignty Movement Celebrate a Landmark Achievement
In sharp contrast, pro-Israel organizations like Regavim and the Sovereignty Movement have hailed the legislation as a monumental step toward justice and equality. The Regavim Movement, which has fought legal battles against the discriminatory Jordanian law for years, issued a jubilant statement:
“For decades, we have endured a law that reeks of racism, a relic of Jordan’s illegal occupation of our land. This legislation marks a turning point, affirming the undeniable truth that a Jew can purchase land in the Land of Israel.”
Similarly, Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar, leaders of the Sovereignty Movement, called the bill a necessary step toward the ultimate goal of full Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. “This is not merely the repeal of a racist law—it is a profound declaration that we, as a nation, are reclaiming our historical and biblical rights.”
Most of the British-held land known as the Jewish National Homeland was given to the Arabs. It’s called Jordan today.
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) January 26, 2025
Jews weren’t permitted to settle in Arab areas during British rule. Transjordan, as it was called during the transient period, was closed off to Jewish… pic.twitter.com/CabJNqlKeh
A Historical Perspective
The roots of this discriminatory policy date back to Jordan’s illegal occupation of Judea, Samaria, and parts of Jerusalem from 1948 to 1967. During that period, Jordan enacted laws to prevent Jews from reclaiming land in areas that had been part of their ancestral homeland for thousands of years. Although Israel liberated these territories during the Six Day War, the Jordanian legal framework—particularly its restrictions on Jewish land ownership—remained intact.
Even after Jordan formally renounced any claim to these areas in 1988, the Palestinian Authority (PA), established under the Oslo Accords, continued to enforce draconian measures banning real estate sales to Jews. The PA has gone so far as to declare selling land to a Jew a capital offense, punishable by death. This has forced Jews wishing to purchase land to rely on clandestine methods, often involving Arab intermediaries who later flee the region for fear of retribution.
The Road Ahead
The repeal of this law not only removes a dark stain of institutionalized discrimination but also signals a bold step toward Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. It opens the door to a future where Jews and Arabs alike can engage in fair and transparent real estate transactions, free from the shadow of unjust, outdated policies.
This legislative triumph is more than just a legal milestone—it is a statement of national identity, historical justice, and the enduring resilience of the Jewish people. With this bill making its way through the legislative process, Israel is not only righting an old wrong but also laying the groundwork for a future built on equality and the unshakable connection of the Jewish people to their land.