Decree-Law No. 7 of 2016 concerning the Palestinian Land and Water Settlement Commission (LWSC).

This Decree-Law, comprising 10 articles, establishes the Palestinian Land and Water Settlement Commission (LWSC) and defines its main tasks as follows: (i) to organize, verify, and legally register all land and water rights in Palestine, while resolving related disputes in accordance with the Land and Water Settlement Law No. (40) of 1952 and its amendments; (ii) to conduct land and water settlement operations for all persons holding rights of disposal, ownership, or usufruct within the State of Palestine, whether such rights are recognized or disputed; (iii) to carry out all surveying and monitoring activities in designated settlement areas; (iv) to declare the areas subject to settlement operations, define their boundaries, and undertake the necessary legal procedures; (v) to open and maintain settlement registers, including receiving objections and referring them to the competent settlement courts; (vi) to collect the prescribed fees; (vii) to engage experts and consultants as needed to fulfill its mandate; and (viii) to refer the finalized registers to the Land Authority. All assets and financial and in-kind rights allocated for settlement shall be transferred to the Authority. The Chairman of the Authority is responsible for exercising the powers of the Director of Lands under the 1952 Land and Water Settlement Law and related legislation, representing the Authority before all bodies, managing and supervising its staff, preparing the annual budget and financial and administrative reports, drafting regulations and organizational structures for approval, and signing agreements on behalf of the government.