In brief
The joint statement from the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Canada calls Israel’s new settlement tender in the West Bank “unacceptable” and an obstacle to a two‑state solution. The plan – covering 4.6 square miles between east Jerusalem and Maale Adumim – is seen as a strategic move to split the Palestinian territories. Israel’s press secretary insists the tender is a domestic issue, but international leaders and UN officials warn it threatens the very existence of a contiguous Palestinian state. The project follows a decade of settlement growth under a pro‑settlement coalition, raising concerns that the impending election will lock in new construction. Global criticism highlights the broader conflict over jurisdiction, land rights and the prospects for long‑term peace.
Western Allies Slam Israel’s New West Bank Settlement Plan
UK, France, Germany, Italy and Canada have issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s decision to open tenders for 1,200 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank. The Russian-backed project, anchored in the strategically sensitive area east of Jerusalem, is described as "unacceptable" and a threat to a two‑state solution.
In a joint Twitter dispatch, the grouped governments called the decision "unacceptable" and urged Israel to "retract the plans immediately." The statement added that the new tender would deepen the divide of the land and undermine Israel’s international standing.
What the Tender Covers
The tender, announced by the Israeli housing ministry, will cover around 4.6 square miles of land between east Jerusalem and the Maale Adumim settlement. The plan includes 1,234 of the 3,401 housing units that were approved by the government last August.
International and Local Backlash
The UN Secretary‑General and Belgium’s foreign minister have warned that the E1 project poses an "existential threat" to a contiguous Palestinian state. Israeli opposition groups argue the tender blocks development in the West Bank’s centre and isolates East Jerusalem.
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an ultranationalist, said the idea of a Palestinian state was "being erased" during the tender unveiling. The deadline for bids is 19 October, just days before Israel’s 27 October general election, making it difficult for the next government to reverse the move.
Despite campaigns by Bedouin Palestinians and peace activists, the Israeli government has continued to expand settlements. The project follows years of growth under a pro‑settlement coalition that returned to power in late 2022, coinciding with the Gaza war triggered by Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023.
Implications for Peace
Experts warn that the E1 plan would effectively cut the West Bank into north and south, preventing any future possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state that connects Ramallah, East Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. The international condemnation underscores the urgent need for a negotiated solution that respects land rights and the prospects for coexistence.
