International contention continues as eight more countries condemn Israel's E1 settlement plan

On Friday, foreign ministers from eight countries – Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt – pronounced their joint condemnation of Israel's E1 West Bank settlement plan. The ministers described the project as a "dangerous escalation," threatening the geographical contiguity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

They emphasized that the plan undermines the viability of an independent and contiguous Palestinian State, directly challenging international peace efforts, especially those spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump's Comprehensive Plan. The ministers' statement comes just a day after France, Germany, Britain, and Italy also condemned the E1 plan, calling it "unacceptable" and threatening targeted sanctions against those involved in settlement expansion.

Meanwhile, Ma'aleh Adumim Mayor Guy Yifrach hailed the project as "tremendous" and "major" news for the settlement and Israel as a whole. The ministers urged for "immediate action" to halt the plan, rescind related measures, and cease all settlement activities altering the territory's geographic and demographic character. They also called upon the UN Security Council and other international actors to uphold their responsibilities under international law, taking urgent steps to halt illegal settlement expansion and protect the Palestinian people's rights.

The ministers further denounced recent violent attacks by extremist settlers in the West Bank, claiming these acts occurred with Israel's support, violating international law and threatening regional and international peace.