8 nations condemn Israeli settlement expansion and E1 project

Eight nations – Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia – have strongly condemned Israel's ongoing illegal settlement activities and the controversial E1 project in the occupied Palestinian territories. In a joint statement released on Friday, the foreign ministers of these nations reaffirmed their rejection of Israel's settlement policies and the E1 plan, warning that such actions not only contravene international law but also threaten the viability of a future Palestinian state.

The ministers emphasized that the illegal settlements, alongside settler violence and violations against Palestinians, are fundamentally at odds with the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. They stressed that these actions breach multiple UN resolutions and undermine the territorial integrity of both the West Bank and East Jerusalem, a move that is perceived as a dangerous escalation toward annexation.

The ministers underscored that the E1 project specifically threatens to sever the West Bank from East Jerusalem, an outcome they assert directly defies the goals of international peace efforts, including the comprehensive peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump's plan, they noted, explicitly rejects annexation and displacement of Palestinians, further highlighting the contradiction between Trump's stance and Israel's actions.

Reiterating their support for the two-state solution, which is grounded in international law and UN resolutions, the ministers emphasized that this is the only viable path to achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the region. They warned that any actions undermining the two-state solution would only exacerbate tensions and jeopardize regional and international stability.

In their condemnation, the ministers advocated for a robust response, including the imposition of international sanctions on those responsible for illegal settlement activities and annexation policies. They called for an immediate cessation of all funding that supports settlement establishment or expansion, asserting that the absence of accountability allows such violations to persist and hampers the prospects for a comprehensive peace.

The ministers appealed to the United Nations Security Council and the broader international community to fulfill their legal obligations. They urged these bodies to halt settlement expansion, safeguard the rights of the Palestinian people, and uphold their fundamental right to self-determination and statehood. The joint statement, published by Egypt Independent, underscores the collective stance of these eight nations in their firm opposition to Israel's settlement expansion and the E1 project.