France, Germany, Britain and Italy Condemn Israel’s E1 Settlement Plans
France, Germany, Britain and Italy on Thursday strongly condemned Israel’s plans to open construction tenders for a residential settlement project known as E1 in the occupied West Bank.
In a joint statement, the leaders of the four European countries described the Israeli government’s decision to invite bids for construction projects under the E1 settlement plan as “unacceptable.”
The four countries warned that the project could further undermine prospects for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and increase tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The E1 project is located east of Jerusalem and has long been a source of international concern because of its potential to expand Israeli settlements and disrupt the territorial continuity of a future Palestinian state.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis currently live in settlements across the West Bank, alongside millions of Palestinians. The territory was captured by Israel during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
Most countries and several United Nations bodies consider Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank to be contrary to international law. Israel rejects that position, maintaining that it has historical and biblical ties to the territory.
The latest criticism from the four European countries comes amid continued international concern over Israeli settlement expansion and its potential impact on efforts to achieve a lasting political settlement between Israelis and Palestinians.