Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has approved the expansion of the E1 settlement, a long-stalled project near Jerusalem, which is expected to further fragment the West Bank territories that were once envisioned as part of a potential Palestinian state. The decision signals a decisive shift in Israeli policy, solidifying the stance of hard-liners and deepening the divide with international actors who had previously supported a two-state solution.
The E1 corridor, a land bridge connecting Israeli settlements in the West, to Jerusalem, has been a major point of contention in peace negotiations for decades, with its expansion viewed as a significant obstacle to any future settlement. Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant stated that the approval of E1 was necessary to ‘preserve the security and integrity of the state of Israel,’ asserting that the settlement expansion is essential to safeguarding the country’s strategic interests.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and leaders of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) have condemned the move, calling it ‘a blatant violation of international law and a direct threat to the two-state solution.’ The international community, including the United Nations and several Western nations, has expressed deep concern over the decision, with some calling for economic sanctions or other measures to pressure Israel into halting the expansion.
Analysts note that the approval of E1 represents a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as it not only undermines Palestinian statehood aspirations but also fuels tensions with the broader Middle East region. The move is likely to complicate any future negotiations and further entrench the division of the West Bank into Israeli-controlled areas and territories under Palestinian administration.