UK, France, Germany, Italy and Canada condemn Israel's West Bank settlement project

The UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada have strongly condemned Israel's plans to expand settlement construction in the strategically important West Bank area known as E1. In a joint statement, the Western powers declared the decision "unacceptable" and urged Israel to "retract the plans immediately." They emphasized that all settlements are illegal under international law and warned that the E1 project would deal a significant blow to the prospects of a two-state solution.

This move would effectively partition the West Bank and isolate East Jerusalem, heightening tensions in an already volatile region.

The joint statement, published on Thursday, underscored the severity of the situation, stating that the E1 plans would push Israel further away from achieving peace and would further undermine its international standing. The UN secretary general also expressed deep concern, calling the E1 plan an "existential threat" to a contiguous Palestinian state. Belgium's foreign minister echoed similar sentiments.

Despite opposition from Israel's allies and Palestinians, Israel proceeded with opening bids for the construction of 1,234 of the 3,401 housing units approved by the Israeli government last August. The tender covers a 12-square-kilometer area between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Maale Adumim. The deadline for bids is set for 19 October, just days before Israel's general election on 27 October, making it difficult for any future government to reverse the decision.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration has faced intense international pressure against the E1 project, yet expansion has surged since he took office in late 2022. This escalation in settlement construction has been driven by his pro-settlement coalition and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, sparked by Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023.

Opponents warn that the E1 project would irreversibly block the creation of a Palestinian state by dividing the West Bank and disrupting the development of a unified Palestinian urban area connecting Ramallah, East Jerusalem, and Bethlehem.