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

Western powers, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada, have strongly condemned Israel's plans to build 1,200 new settlement homes in the strategically significant West Bank area known as E1. In a joint statement, these nations called the decision "unacceptable" and urged Israel to "retract the plans immediately." All settlements in the West Bank are deemed illegal under international law, and the E1 project is feared to significantly undermine hopes for a two-state solution and isolate East Jerusalem.

The statement emphasized that the move would take the region further from peace and further damage Israel's international standing. The UN secretary general also expressed concern, stating that the E1 plan posed an "existential threat" to a contiguous Palestinian state. Despite Israeli court challenges and objections from peace groups, the Israeli housing ministry issued a tender for 1,234 of the 3,401 approved housing units on Wednesday, covering an area of about 12 square kilometers between East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim.

The deadline for bids is October 19, just days before Israel's general election on October 27, making it difficult for any future government to overturn the tenders. Israel has built approximately 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews since its occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas Palestinians claim for a future state.

The expansion of settlements, particularly since the return of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to power in late 2022, has been fueled by the ongoing Gaza conflict and rising instability in the West Bank.