In brief
Israel’s announcement to tender contracts for 1,234 housing units in East Jerusalem’s E1 corridor has triggered sharp condemnation from the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Canada. The joint statement branded the move as "unacceptable" and urged Israel to withdraw the plans immediately, citing international law and the threat to a contiguous Palestinian state. Senior officials warned that the project would divide the West Bank and isolate East Jerusalem, undermining peace prospects. Despite legal challenges and opposition from Palestinian groups and Israeli peace organisations, the Israeli housing ministry proceeded with the tender citing a deadline before the national election.
Israel Announces Tender for 1,200 New Settlements in E1 Corridor
Israel’s housing ministry announced on Wednesday that it will open tenders for 1,234 of the 3,401 housing units approved last August in the east Jerusalem corridor, a move that many international observers say will enclose the West Bank and isolate East Jerusalem from the Palestinian heartland.
Western Allies Issue Joint Condemnation
In a unified statement released Thursday, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Canada called the decision “unacceptable” and urged Israel to retract the plans immediately. The bloc emphasised that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law, and that the E1 project threatens a two‑state solution by effectively splitting the West Bank into two disconnected parts.
"At a time of grave instability in the West Bank with unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians, and serious restrictions on the Palestinian economy, this decision is even more concerning," the statement read.
Impact on Peace Prospects
The authors warned that the expansion would further distance the region from peace, undermining Israel’s international standing and posing an “existential threat” to a contiguous Palestinian state. Belgian foreign minister and UN Secretary‑General both echoed the alarm, noting that the project would effectively cut the north of the West Bank from the south, blocking the development of a unified Palestinian urban area connecting Ramallah, East Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Domestic and International Opposition
Bedouin Palestinians in the area, Israeli peace groups, and a number of other stakeholders have challenged the plans in court. Despite these objections, the tender was issued with a deadline of 19 October, just days before Israel’s general election on 27 October, making it difficult for any future government to reverse the decision.
Since the 1967 occupation, Israel has built roughly 160 settlements hosting 700,000 Jewish residents in territories desired by Palestinians. The size of the E1 project, covering about 12 square kilometres, represents a significant addition to Israel’s settlement network and would amplify the fragmentation caused by past settlement growth.
Proponents of the project argue that the expansion is required for security and settlement growth, but critics say it represents a deliberate attempt to solidify Israeli control over the West Bank, leaving Palestinians with a fragmented territory and no viable path to statehood.
In a separate statement, Israel’s foreign minister responded that the condemnation was "unthoughtful and wrong," a tone that underlines the growing rift between Israel and its traditional European allies.
