Key European leaders demand Israel halt West Bank settlement project

France, Italy, Britain, and Germany have condemned Israel's decision to proceed with a major settlement project in the occupied West Bank, despite international law declaring such settlements illegal. The E1 plan, approved by Israel last year, would build over 1,200 homes and further isolate East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed, from the West Bank.

The joint statement from the four European leaders expressed deep concern over the timing of the decision, warning businesses against participating in the construction tenders and risking breaches of international law. The UN secretary general has stated that the E1 plan threatens the existence of a contiguous Palestinian state.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot deemed the tenders "unacceptable," arguing that the project would severely undermine the viability of a two-State solution. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also denounced the project in a statement to Israel's top diplomat, urging an immediate end to the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.

Miliband accused Israel of prioritizing its own rights over those of Palestinians, a claim Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected, accusing the UK of singling out Israel while ignoring Palestinian extremism.

The UK has pledged to impose sanctions on individuals involved in the illegal expansion of settlements. The E1 plan covers approximately 12 square kilometers and aims to construct around 3,400 homes, accounting for about one-third of the entire development. The tender for these homes opened on August 18 and will close on October 19, just before Israel's general elections scheduled for October 27.