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Israel’s West Bank Land Registry Move Sparks Palestinian Outrage

  Israeli's sit on the roof next to a flag, as they monitor a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 14, 2026.  Israel’s cabinet has approved a plan to formally register land in parts of the occupied West Bank, a step that Israeli officials say will modernize property records and clarify ownership. The initiative would allow the state to designate certain areas as Israeli state land and streamline processes for settlement expansion. Palestinian leaders have sharply condemned the decision, calling it a “de‑facto annexation” that further entrenches Israeli control over territory they envision as part of a future state. Several Arab governments have also criticized the move, arguing that it violates international law and undermines efforts to revive negotiations. Supporters within the Israeli government argue that the registration process will reduce legal disputes and bring administrative order to the region. Opponents counter that it acc...
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US Futures Fall as Rate-Cut Bets Get a Reality Check

 


US stock futures fell on Wednesday, signaling no let-up in a rough January. Investors’ optimism for interest rate cuts got a reality check, and worries about China’s economy grew. Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI) futures fell 0.4%, while S&P 500 ( ^GSPC) futures slid 0.4%, set to build on Tuesday’s losing start to the holiday-shortened week. 

Futures on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 ( ^NDX) were down roughly 0.5%. Stocks have struggled as policymakers push back against persistent bets that central banks will cut rates early and often in 2024. ECB president Christine Lagarde on Wednesday joined the likes of Federal Reserve Governor Chris Waller in warning that expectations of imminent loosening are too high. Another knockback came from disappointing GDP data suggesting that China’s growth is flagging despite stimulus measures. 

Oil prices fell amid fears of a pullback in demand from the world’s second biggest economy. Hopes now rest on quarterly earnings, with the season set to pick up pace, and the release of the December retail sales report later Wednesday. 

Fed officials have been keen to stress that their policy decision making will be driven by incoming economic data. Regional bank fourth-quarter results are in focus in the morning after earnings from Wall Street’s big lenders got a mixed reception.

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