Israel’s decision to open tenders for the construction of 1,234 settlement homes in the strategically sensitive E1 area of the occupied West Bank has drawn fresh condemnation from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada.
In a joint statement, the five countries described the move as “unacceptable” and urged Israel to immediately withdraw the plans.
The E1 project, located between East Jerusalem and the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, has long been a major point of international concern. Palestinians and many of Israel’s allies say construction in the area could severely undermine prospects for a two-state solution by effectively dividing the West Bank and isolating East Jerusalem.
The joint statement said the decision was particularly troubling amid what it described as “grave instability” in the West Bank, rising settler violence against Palestinian civilians and serious restrictions on the Palestinian economy.
The countries warned that the plans would further distance the region from peace and damage Israel’s international standing.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres separately said the E1 development posed an “existential threat” to the possibility of establishing a contiguous Palestinian state. Belgium’s foreign minister also condemned the move.
The Israeli Housing Ministry issued the tender on Wednesday, despite a legal challenge by Bedouin Palestinians living in the area and Israeli peace groups. The tender covers 1,234 of the 3,401 housing units approved by the Israeli government last August.
The development covers about 12 square kilometres between East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a prominent ultranationalist and settler, previously said the project would help ensure that the idea of a Palestinian state was “being erased”.
The deadline for bids is October 19, just days before Israel’s general election on October 27, potentially making it more difficult for a future government to reverse any contracts awarded under the tender.
Israel has established about 160 settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where around 700,000 Israeli settlers now live alongside an estimated 3.3 million Palestinians.
The international community broadly considers the settlements illegal under international law, a position rejected by Israel.
Settlement expansion has accelerated since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022 at the head of a right-wing coalition dominated by pro-settler parties. The expansion has also intensified during the Gaza war, which began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Opponents of the E1 project say its strategic location could prevent the creation of a viable Palestinian state by cutting off northern and southern parts of the West Bank and obstructing the development of a contiguous urban corridor linking Ramallah, East Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
