Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has endorsed plans to construct 3,400 housing units in the contentious E1 area of the occupied West Bank, reigniting global debate over the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations. The proposal, frozen for decades due to international opposition, would establish a strategic corridor between Jerusalem and the Maale Adumim settlement, a move critics say would fragment Palestinian territorial continuity.
International Condemnation Escalates
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned through spokesperson Stephane Dujarric that the plan "would sever the northern and southern West Bank" and effectively end prospects for a two-state solution. The European Union, Germany, and Saudi Arabia joined Palestinian authorities in condemning the initiative as a violation of international law, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urging Israel "to desist."
Geopolitical Stakes in E1
The E1 zone's development has long been considered a red line by diplomats, as its location east of Jerusalem could block Palestinian access to potential statehood infrastructure. Israeli NGO Peace Now cautioned that final approval at next week's Defense Ministry hearing could enable construction to begin within months, calling the plan "deadly" for peace prospects.
Recognition Race Intensifies
The announcement comes as several European nations prepare to formally recognize Palestinian statehood later this year. Smotrich framed the settlement push as a direct response, stating: "Those who want to recognize a Palestinian state today will receive a response from us on the ground through concrete actions."
With 500,000 Israeli settlers already living among three million Palestinians in the West Bank, this latest development threatens to further complicate one of the world's most intractable territorial disputes.
