21 countries condemn Israel's approval of E1 settlement plan
Twenty-one countries, including the UK and France, have issued a joint statement condemning Israel's approval of the "E1" settlement plan.
İHA
The foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, the Netherlands, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Iceland, Japan, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, and Slovenia have issued a joint statement strongly condemning Israel's approval of the "E1" settlement plan, which divides the West Bank in two. The joint statement said, "The decision by Israel's Higher Planning Committee to approve plans for settlement construction in the E1 area east of Jerusalem is unacceptable and a violation of international law. We strongly condemn this decision and call for its immediate withdrawal."
Pointing out that Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich himself has noted that this plan would divide a future Palestinian state and restrict Palestinian access to Jerusalem, making a two-state solution impossible, the statement added, "This provides no benefit to the Israeli people, but rather harms security, fuels violence and instability, and moves us further away from peace. The Israeli government still has the opportunity to stop further advancement of the E1 plan. We urgently invite them to withdraw this plan."
The statement emphasized that the Israeli government's unilateral steps harm joint efforts toward security and prosperity in the Middle East, stating, "The Israeli government must halt settlement construction in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and lift restrictions on the Palestinian Authority's financial resources."
UK SUMMONS ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO LONDON TO FOREIGN OFFICE
The UK, one of the signatories of the condemnation statement, summoned Israel's Ambassador to London, Tzipi Hotovely, to the Foreign Office following Israel's decision to approve the E1 settlement plan. A statement from the UK Foreign Office said, "Hotovely was summoned in response to the decision by Israel's Higher Planning Committee to approve plans for settlement construction in the E1 area east of Jerusalem."
The statement added, "If implemented, this settlement plan would be a clear violation of international law and would critically undermine a two-state solution by dividing a future Palestinian state."
ABOUT THE E1 PLAN
Israel plans to build 3,401 illegal housing units as part of the "E1" project, which aims to separate regions in the West Bank from each other and cut Jerusalem off from Palestinian territories on all sides.