Seven Countries Demand Israel Halt West Bank Mega-Settlement That Could Split Palestinian Territory in Two

Israel’s Ministry of Construction and Housing opened bidding on August 18 for 1,234 housing units in the E1 settlement zone east of Jerusalem, the first tranche of a larger project of more than 3,400 units spanning roughly 12 square kilometers of West Bank land between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim; bid submissions close October 19, one week before Israeli elections scheduled for October 27. In response, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Norway and Canada issued a joint statement on August 20 demanding Israel “retract these plans immediately and end its expansion of settlements in the West Bank,” warning the move comes amid “unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians” [1]. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called the tender “unacceptable and destructive,” summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires and pledged upcoming sanctions against those involved, while the UN Secretary-General said the plan poses an “existential threat” to a contiguous Palestinian state [1]. Palestinian officials, including the PLO-affiliated Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, warned the project would confine Palestinians to “disconnected enclaves surrounded by settlements,” and the Israeli watchdog group Ir Amim said even partial construction would create “irreversible facts on the ground” [2].

Why It Sucks:

Palestinians

• The plan would physically cut the West Bank in two. E1 is designed to sever East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank and bisect the territory north from south, foreclosing the geographic contiguity a future Palestinian state would need [1].
• Communities warn of being boxed into enclaves. The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission says advancing the tender would leave Palestinians confined to “disconnected enclaves surrounded by settlements” [2].
• Even a partial build can’t be undone. Watchdog group Ir Amim warns that construction doesn’t have to finish to do lasting damage — partial implementation alone would create “irreversible facts on the ground” [1].

Conservatives

• Israel is building on land it administers. Despite the joint European statement, Israel’s housing ministry pressed ahead and opened bidding anyway, which conservatives see as a sovereign government exercising its right to develop and secure territory rather than defying legitimate authority [1].
• Threats of sanctions from allies who bear no security cost ring hollow. Conservatives argue that European capitals threatening consequences against a close ally facing “unprecedented” settler and civilian violence is easy to do from a distance, without their own citizens shouldering any of the risk [1].
• Foreign pressure campaigns rarely change Israeli policy. With bids due just a week before Israeli elections, conservatives note the timing suggests European statements are more about domestic political signaling abroad than any real leverage over Jerusalem’s decisions [1].

Progressives

• This looks like the end of the two-state solution. Progressives point to the UN Secretary-General’s warning that E1 poses an “existential threat” to a contiguous Palestinian state as proof the window for a negotiated peace is closing [1].
• Washington should be following Europe’s lead, not standing apart. With seven allied governments calling the tender “unacceptable and destructive” and pledging real consequences, progressives argue the U.S. should be applying the same pressure rather than continuing unconditional support [1].
• The timing amid settler violence makes it worse. The joint statement itself notes the decision comes at “a time of grave instability in the West Bank with unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians,” which progressives say makes expanding settlements now especially reckless [1].

Sources & Citations:

[1] Euronews: European leaders demand Israel halt controversial E1 settlement project in West Bank
[2] Al Jazeera: Palestinians, UK condemn Israel’s ‘destructive’ E1 settlement plan