The Palestinian Authority (PA) has stressed preventing land sales to Israel by stating the ‘major offense’ is punishable with a death sentence.

The PA reaffirmed the death penalty for Palestinians found guilty of selling land to Israelis on Sunday, insisting that the land law is necessary to prevent the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

The decree came on the heels of a ruling by a Palestinian court according to which such acts were only a “minor offense,” the Jerusalem Post reported.

The announcement prompted PA Prosecutor General Ahmed al-Mughni to appeal against the ruling to a higher court, arguing that the sale of land to Israelis was a “major offense” punishable by death. The appeal was accepted.

The ‘Law for Preventing the Sale of Real Estate to the Enemy’ was originally put into effect by Jordan between 1948 and 1967.

The Ramallah-based PA adopted the land law and announced that it would seek the death penalty for any Palestinian who threatened the state’s security and well-being by selling land to Israelis.

The West Bank authority later drafted its own ‘Property Law for Foreigners’ which described the sale of land to "occupiers” as an act of “national treason.”

However, Ramallah has so far refrained from executing those convicted of selling land to Israeli settlers.

(Press TV)