E1 settlement plan becomes election wedge for Netanyahu and Smotrich
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Israel's government invited bids for more than 1,200 housing units in the E1 settlement corridor in the occupied West Bank, a move that would sever the territory and end prospects for a Palestinian state. The tender, issued two months before Israel's general election, has drawn near-universal international condemnation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich are using the backlash to rally right-wing voters.
Key Facts
- Israel's government invited bids for more than 1,200 housing units in the E1 settlement corridor in the occupied West Bank.
- The tender was issued two months before Israel's general election.
- E1 would link Ma'ale Adumim and other Israeli settlements to occupied East Jerusalem, severing the West Bank in two.
- Both supporters and critics agree that E1's construction would end the possibility of a Palestinian state.
- Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party is currently unlikely to pass the electoral threshold.
Election Timing
The government's call for tenders to construct E1 falls two months before Israel's general election. Israeli analyst Nimrod Flaschenberg said the timing is not a coincidence. Flaschenberg also linked the timing to a dramatic increase in settler violence in the occupied West Bank, where Smotrich has administrative control. He said both Smotrich and Netanyahu are benefiting from the outrage, adding that little of this is accidental.
Political Exploitation
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has framed international criticism of Israel's war on Gaza as an 'us vs them' moment since October 2023. He has frequently portrayed Israel as alone in a hostile world and himself as the only leader strong enough to stand up to critics. After UK Foreign Minister Ed Miliband called E1 an 'unacceptable and destructive act', Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticised the 'patronising tone' of his statement. With the election approaching, the way ministers respond to the E1 project could determine their political futures. Smotrich has been a key proponent of E1 and could benefit from an uptick in support from right-wing Israelis.
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E1 settlement plan becomes election wedge for Netanyahu and Smotrich
