Israel Approves Controversial Settlement Project in E1 Area
In a bold move, Israel has given its final approval for a controversial settlement project in the E1 area that would effectively split the occupied West Bank from East Jerusalem, creating a division within the territory.
This decision comes after two decades of frozen construction in E1 due to intense international opposition. Critics argue that this move would extinguish any hopes for a viable, contiguous Palestinian state.
The approval for 3,400 homes in E1 was granted by a defence ministry committee on Wednesday. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who introduced the plans last week, stated that the idea of a Palestinian state is now being “erased”.
The Palestinian Authority has strongly condemned this decision, labeling it as illegal and warning that it will “destroy” any prospects for a two-state solution.
This development follows announcements from several countries expressing their intentions to recognize a Palestinian state, a move that Israel has vehemently opposed.
With approximately 700,000 Jews residing in about 160 settlements built by Israel since the 1967 Middle East war, the settlements on occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem land are considered illegal under international law.
Israel’s approval for the E1 project signifies a significant escalation in settlement expansion since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to power in late 2022. This expansion has intensified following the Gaza war triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The E1 project, covering about 12 sq km between East Jerusalem and the Maale Adumim settlement, will include 3,401 housing units. Additionally, 342 units were approved for the new settlement of Asael in the southern West Bank.
Smotrich, an ultranationalist leader overseeing the Civil Administration, emphasized that every new settlement and housing unit further diminishes the idea of a Palestinian state.
Opponents of the E1 project argue that it will effectively block the establishment of a Palestinian state by dividing the West Bank and obstructing the development of a contiguous Palestinian urban area.
The Palestinian Authority and international leaders have condemned Israel’s actions, urging for genuine international intervention to halt the colonial schemes and respect the two-state solution.
The latest move by Israel has sparked outrage and condemnation globally, with many world leaders denouncing the decision and calling for a reversal of the plans.
