Rights group: Israel approves over 4,000 new settler homes | AP News
Israel is on track to approve a highly controversial settlement project in the occupied West Bank, a move that critics say could block any chance of a future Palestinian state.
The E1 plan—first proposed in the 1990s—would add more than 3,400 homes, expanding the Jewish settlement of Ma’ale Adumim toward Jerusalem. This would effectively split the West Bank in two, further isolating East Jerusalem from surrounding Palestinian areas.
A Long-Frozen Plan Moves Forward
The plan has been stalled for decades due to strong opposition from the international community, including past U.S. administrations. But Israel’s Supreme Planning Council is expected to give it the green light next week, after rejecting objections from local NGOs.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a staunch supporter of West Bank settlements, said the project would “bury the idea of a Palestinian state.” Smotrich, who also has a role in the Defense Ministry overseeing settlement planning, has been sanctioned by the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand for inciting violence against Palestinian communities.
International Backlash
The European Union, Germany, and Norway have condemned the move, calling it illegal under international law and harmful to peace prospects. The UN urged Israel to reverse the decision, warning it would make a two-state solution nearly impossible.
Germany’s foreign ministry called on Israel to stop settlement construction, while Norway’s foreign minister accused Israel of trying to “appropriate land owned by Palestinians.”
U.S. Response
The U.S. State Department avoided directly addressing Smotrich’s claim that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. President Donald Trump supported the plan. Instead, it stressed the importance of stability in the West Bank for Israel’s security and regional peace.
A Political and Diplomatic Gamble
While approval would be a major step forward for the settlement, actual construction could face further delays due to intense diplomatic pressure. Even with past signals of support from the Trump administration, moving ahead risks deepening Israel’s isolation on the world stage.
Israeli NGO Peace Now accused the government of trying to “deepen the annexation of the West Bank” and warned that avoiding a two-state solution will only lead to more conflict.
The E1 plan has remained one of Israel’s most divisive issues for over 20 years. With international opposition stronger than ever, the coming weeks will show whether Israel proceeds with building—or keeps the project on paper.
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