Israel announces the annexation of 3 Palestinian villages northwest of Jerusalem and imposes special permits

The Israeli authorities informed the residents of three Palestinian villages northwest of Jerusalem that they are now officially within the scope of Israeli control, and they must obtain special permits to move, in a step described by observers as a preliminary measure to fully apply Israeli laws to Palestinian territories.

"Sky News Arabia" reported that residents holding Palestinian identity cards expressed their concern that the measures could lead to dangerous demographic and geographical changes, amid the absence of a clear official announcement regarding the nature of the legal and administrative transformation.

This step comes at a time when tensions are escalating in the West Bank, with Palestinian and international warnings about the policy of "creeping annexation" which includes the expansion of settlements, restricting the movement of Palestinians, and imposing strict permit systems.

Analysts believe that these measures set a precedent that could be repeated in other areas, raising fears of the collapse of the two-state solution and diminishing the Palestinian presence around Jerusalem in favor of Israeli settlement projects.