US Senate Democrats urge Israel to rein in West Bank violence

In the lead-up to the October 27 Knesset election, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears willing to employ any tactic to regain office. One such controversial move involves the construction of 1,200 housing units in E-1, a small 12 square kilometre area in the West Bank situated within the municipal limits of Ma’ale Adumim.

Ma’ale Adumim has been a settlement since 1975, under Yitzhak Rabin's prime ministership, and boasts around 35,000 Israeli citizens. Despite the Oslo Accords of 1993, which aimed to connect Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem and expand Jerusalem's security, there have been persistent discussions about establishing a settlement in E-1 since 1994.

The Clinton Parameters of 2000 even proposed a deal where Israel would annex Ma’ale Adumim, including E-1, in exchange for relinquishing most of the West Bank. However, Palestinians have countered this effort by building individual housing units, which Israel subsequently dismantles. Despite international criticism, Netanyahu remains committed to this plan, driven by the need to bolster support for his political alliance.

The upcoming election could see a shift in power, with his center-right and right-wing parties potentially losing seats to the ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir. While Netanyahu's military actions against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran have yielded some gains, they have not translated into political success, as his party's seat count remains uncertain.

Netanyahu's reluctance to acknowledge personal responsibility for the October 7 terror attack and resist calls for a national inquiry commission further complicates his electoral prospects. His decision to push forward with E-1 settlement plans, despite widespread opposition, underscores his focus on electoral calculations rather than international diplomacy.