The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Canada have jointly condemned Israel’s plan to advance construction of 1,234 settlement homes in the strategically sensitive E1 area of the occupied West Bank, calling the move “unacceptable” and urging Israel to withdraw the plans immediately.
The Israeli housing ministry issued tenders on Wednesday for the first phase of a project covering approximately 12 sq km between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Maale Adumim. The wider project includes 3,401 housing units approved by the Israeli government last year.
The five countries warned that the development would further undermine prospects for peace and a two-state solution. They also cited escalating settler violence and restrictions affecting the Palestinian economy as reasons for concern.
E1 Project Raises Fresh Fears for Two-State Solution
The E1 area has long been regarded as strategically important because construction there could divide the occupied West Bank geographically and restrict territorial links between Palestinian population centres, including Ramallah, East Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres separately warned that the project posed an “existential threat” to the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state. Belgium also criticised the plans.
Israel has faced longstanding international opposition over settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Approximately 700,000 Israeli settlers currently live in about 160 settlements across the two areas, alongside an estimated 3.3 million Palestinians.
The latest tenders come ahead of Israel’s October 27 general election, with the bidding deadline set for October 19. Critics argue that advancing the process before the election could make it more difficult for a future government to reverse the plans.