- Israel's Housing Ministry issued a tender for 1,234 housing units in E1, part of a larger plan for 3,401 units.
- The UK, along with France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, and Norway, issued a joint statement condemning the E1 settlement plan and urging Israel to retract it.
- The UK summoned the Israeli diplomat over the settlement plans, reflecting serious diplomatic concerns.
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized Britain's stance, calling it absurd for Britain to lecture Israel on where to live.
- The E1 settlement plan is seen as a move that could undermine the two-state solution by dividing the West Bank and harming the territorial contiguity of Palestinian territories.
- International law considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal, a position reaffirmed by the United Nations Security Council.
- The joint statement from Western allies expressed that the E1 plan poses an existential threat to a contiguous Palestinian state.
The UK summoned an Israeli diplomat following widespread condemnation from Western allies regarding Israel's E1 settlement plan, which could effectively 'bury' the two-state solution. The Israeli government has advanced plans for over 1,200 housing units in the E1 area, a move criticized for its potential to disrupt Palestinian territorial contiguity.3
The E1 settlement is seen as a significant threat to the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state, as it would divide the West Bank into northern and southern regions, isolating East Jerusalem from the rest of the territory. The international community has long opposed such expansions, with the UN Security Council reaffirming that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law.6
In a joint statement, European allies and Canada expressed their concerns, stating, “At a time of grave instability in the West Bank with unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians, and serious restrictions on the Palestinian economy, this decision is even more concerning.” UK Foreign Secretary Ed Milliband labeled the advancement of the E1 plans as an “unacceptable and destructive act,” warning that Britain would not tolerate actions undermining the two-state solution.
The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has accelerated settlement approvals despite international backlash. Critics, including the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, have called the decision “extremely dangerous, irresponsible, and threatening.” The Egyptian government also condemned the plans, urging the international community to intervene against the expansion of settlements.
“The tender for 1,234 housing units in E1 is due one week before Israeli elections, with opponents warning it would split the West Bank and block a Palestinian state. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the Palestinian state is 'being erased'.”
