Israeli authorities have approved a plan to build 3,400 housing units in the occupied West Bank. This plan, known as E1, could cut Palestinian territory in two and permanently jeopardize the creation of a viable Palestinian state.
A twenty-year-old frozen project reactivated
On Wednesday, Israel approved two decisions with serious consequences. Defense Minister Israel Katz first announced the recall of 60,000 reservists and the takeover of Gaza. A few hours later, the civil administration confirmed the approval of the "E1" plan, a controversial settlement project east of Jerusalem. It provides for the construction of 3,400 housing units near the Ma'ale Adumim settlement.
Guy Yifrah, mayor of the settlement, declared: "Just an hour ago, the administration approved the planning for the construction of the E1 neighborhood!"
Source: BBC
Smotrich: "The Palestinian state is erased by actions"
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a figure of the Israeli far-right, welcomed the decision, stating: "The Palestinian state is being erased, not by slogans, but by actions." For several days, he had been urging the government to accelerate this project and to annex the West Bank in response to announcements by several countries recognizing Palestine.
An international outcry
Opponents of the project emphasize that the plan would cut the West Bank into two distinct parts, making the creation of a Palestinian state with territorial contiguity impossible.
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The UN has called on Israel to abandon it.
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The European Union has deemed it "a violation of international law."
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The Israeli NGO Peace Now has denounced it as a "fatal plan for the future of Israel and for any chance of a two-state solution."
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The Palestinian Authority asserts that this project "fragments" the West Bank and transforms Palestinian areas into "open-air prisons."
For its part, Ir Amim, another NGO, believes that this plan is part of an assumed strategy: to bury any possibility of a Palestinian state and establish an "apartheid regime."
Settlement acceleration
In the West Bank, about 3 million Palestinians live alongside 500,000 Israeli settlers. The United Nations considers these settlements illegal under international law.
Settlement, which began in 1967, has never ceased, regardless of the Israeli government. It has intensified significantly since the arrival of the current executive, and even more so after October 7, 2023, the date of Hamas' attack on Israel which triggered the current war. Since then, clashes between settlers, the army, and Palestinians have multiplied, often with deadly consequences.
Source: Libération, 20/08/25
FAQ
➡️ What is the E1 plan?
It is an Israeli project to build 3,400 housing units between Jerusalem and the Ma'ale Adumim settlement. It is considered strategic because it would cut the West Bank in two.
➡️ Why is it controversial?
Because it jeopardizes the creation of a viable Palestinian state, violates international law, and intensifies the Israeli military occupation.
➡️ What is the international community's position?
The UN and the European Union have called on Israel to abandon this project, believing it makes a two-state solution impossible.
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