UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Canada and Norway condemn Israeli E1 settlement plan
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Six European countries and Canada on Thursday condemned Israel's opening of tenders for more than 1,200 housing units in the E1 settlement project, calling it unacceptable and a violation of Palestinian territorial contiguity. They warned of legal and reputational consequences and urged Israel to retract the plan immediately. Egypt, Malaysia and the United Nations also condemned the plan.
Key Facts
- Israel opened construction tenders for more than 1,200 housing units under the E1 settlement project.
- The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada and Norway warned of legal and reputational consequences and demanded Israel retract the plans.
- The E1 project is slated to include at least 3,400 units on 12 square kilometres of Palestinian land and would bisect the West Bank from north to south.
- Israel gave final approvals to the E1 plan last August, when at least 21 countries condemned it.
International Condemnation
The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada and Norway issued a joint statement on Thursday calling Israel's opening of construction tenders for more than 1,200 housing units under the E1 settlement project unacceptable. The group said the plan violates the territorial contiguity of the Palestinian territories and warned of legal and reputational consequences for participants. The seven nations urged Israel to retract the plans immediately and end its expansion of settlements in the West Bank. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry expressed its complete rejection of attempts to entrench the status quo through illegal settlement expansion and called on the international community to take serious steps to stop the violations. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wrote that the plans gravely undermine the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian homeland and that Israel has abandoned even the pretence of seeking peace.
The E1 Settlement Project
The E1 project, slated to include at least 3,400 housing units, would connect occupied East Jerusalem to the Maale Adumim settlement area on roughly 12 square kilometres of Palestinian land. The settlement would bisect the West Bank from north to south and cut off the West Bank's link to East Jerusalem. Palestinians have for years cited East Jerusalem as the preferred capital of their future state. Israel gave final approvals to the E1 plan last August, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling it historic. At least 21 countries condemned the plans at that time.
UN Response
The United Nations condemned the plan, with spokesperson Stephane Dujarric saying the secretary-general was deeply alarmed by reports of new illegal Israeli settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, including the new tenders. Israeli settlements and outposts in the occupied territory are illegal under international law. Their development has accelerated since the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023. Smotrich said the Palestinian state is being erased from the table not with slogans but with actions.
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UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Canada and Norway condemn Israeli E1 settlement plan
