Israel has granted final approval for a controversial settlement project in the occupied West Bank, a move that critics say could effectively cut Palestinian territory in half and deal a fatal blow to hopes of a future Palestinian state.
The project, located in the E1 area east of Jerusalem, has been under discussion for more than two decades. It was repeatedly frozen in the past due to U.S. pressure under previous administrations. The international community widely considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal and a major obstacle to peace.
Government Push for Expansion
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a former settler leader, welcomed the approval as a direct challenge to recent Western announcements of plans to recognize a Palestinian state.
“The Palestinian state is being erased from the agenda not with slogans, but with actions,” Smotrich declared. “Every settlement, every neighborhood, every housing unit is a nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long rejected the idea of a Palestinian state. He has pledged to maintain indefinite control over the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, territories seized by Israel during the 1967 war, which Palestinians envision as part of their future state.
Strategic Impact of the E1 Plan
The E1 settlement is seen as highly strategic because it lies between Ramallah in the north and Bethlehem in the south. Though the two cities are just 22 kilometers apart, Palestinians must take long detours and pass through multiple Israeli checkpoints, often turning a short journey into hours of travel.
If construction proceeds, the project would include about 3,500 housing units connected to the existing Ma’ale Adumim settlement. Infrastructure work could begin within months, and home construction may follow within a year.
Widespread Criticism
Palestinian officials and rights groups condemned the move, warning it undermines any chance for a political resolution.
Peace Now, an Israeli organization monitoring settlement expansion, said:
“The settlement in E1 has no purpose other than to sabotage a political solution. While there is a consensus among our friends around the world for peace and a two-state solution, the Israeli government is undermining national interests, and we are all paying the price.”
More than 700,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, deepening divisions and tensions on the ground.
