Dhaka, Feb. 15 -- The Israeli government has approved a proposal to register extensive areas of the occupied West Bank as "state property," marking the first such move since Israel occupied the territory in 1967.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported on Sunday that the proposal was put forward by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defence Minister Israel Katz.

Smotrich said the move was part of what he described as a "settlement revolution," adding, "We are continuing the settlement revolution to control all our lands."

Most Palestinian land in the West Bank has remained unregistered due to a lengthy and complex process that Israel halted in 1967. Land registration establishes permanent own...