Foreign ministers from Europe, Australia, and the UK have condemned Israel’s plans to construct a new settlement east of Jerusalem. The proposed ‘E1’ settlement plan has raised significant concerns as it threatens to bisect the West Bank, effectively isolating it from East Jerusalem and jeopardising the viability of a future Palestinian state.
The condemnation was issued on Friday, following the approval of the settlement plan by Israeli authorities. The announcement was made last week by Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, and received final approval from a defence ministry planning commission on Wednesday.
In a robust joint statement, the foreign ministers declared, “The decision by the Israeli higher planning committee to approve plans for settlement construction in the E1 area, east of Jerusalem, is unacceptable and a violation of international law.” They urged for the immediate reversal of the decision, emphasising their strong disapproval.
This statement was supported by ministers from multiple nations, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign chief and vice-president of the European Commission, also joined in the condemnation.
In response, the Israeli government dismissed the foreign ministers’ statement, with the Foreign Ministry asserting, “Israel rejects the attempt to impose foreign dictates upon it.” They further claimed a historical right to the land, stating, “The Jewish people are the indigenous people of the Land of Israel.”
The E1 settlement plan has been met with widespread international criticism. It is viewed as a direct threat to the possibility of achieving a two-state solution, with the foreign ministers stating, “This plan will make a two-state solution impossible by dividing any Palestinian state and restricting Palestinian access to Jerusalem.”
The backdrop of this situation involves Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, which began in the 1967 Middle East war. The ongoing conflict has led to an increased Israeli settlement presence, with around 700,000 Israeli settlers now living among 2.7 million Palestinians in these areas, further complicating the already tense relationship.
