Israel rebuffs UK call to halt West Bank settlement project
The E1 housing project would further separate east Jerusalem, occupied and annexed by Israel and predominantly inhabited by Palestinians, from the West Bank.
United Kingdom's foreign minister, Ed Miliband, rebuffed Israel's announcement of a major settlement project in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday. The E1 plan, which involves constructing over 1,200 homes, was criticized by Miliband as "unacceptable and destructive" and a threat to a two-state solution. The UN secretary general had previously described the E1 project as posing an "existential threat" to a contiguous Palestinian state.
The Israeli government, however, rejected Miliband's statement, accusing the UK of blaming only Israel while ignoring Palestinian extremism. Israel approved the E1 plans in August last year, and the tender for the construction of over 1,200 homes is now open, with submissions due on October 19, one week before Israeli elections on October 27.
The project would further separate east Jerusalem, predominantly inhabited by Palestinians, from the West Bank.
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Also reported by 2 other outlets
- Israel rebuffs UK call to halt West Bank settlement project freemalaysiatoday.com
- Israel is betting on Islamophobia to save its standing in the West aljazeera.com
