According to reports by AFP and other foreign media on August 20, six European countries including the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, along with Canada, called on Israel to immediately stop the expansion of its so-called 'E1 Giant Settlement' on the West Bank. These countries consider the project unacceptable.
These Western countries stated in a joint statement: “We urge the Israeli government to immediately cancel these plans and stop the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. This will not only keep us further away from peace, but it will also further damage Israel’s international reputation.”
According to reports, Norway and the Netherlands have also signed this statement.
The E1 settlement expansion project mentioned in the statement plans to build approximately 3400 housing units in an area of about 12 square kilometers between Ma’aleadomim settlement in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The countries that signed the statement stated that this large-scale project could divide the West Bank into two parts and undermine the prospects of a “two-state solution.”
The statement indicates that international law clearly stipulates that “Israel’s settlements in the West Bank are illegal”, and emphasizes that this position has been supported by the United Nations Security Council on multiple occasions.
Signature declarations of countries, international society "has always opposed such expansion," and "in private and public settings has expressed serious concern." These Western countries governments also emphasized that they have called for enterprises to refrain from participating in the bidding for settlement projects.
Project E1 was approved by the Israeli government in August 2025, despite protests from Palestinian authorities and international society.
According to the Israeli non-governmental organization “Now for Peace” and Israeli media reports, on the 18th, the Israeli Ministry of Housing issued a tender for 1200 housing units for this project. Applicants can submit their bid proposals by October 19th—a date that is only eight days away from the Israeli legislative elections. These elections will determine whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can continue to serve as leader. Under his leadership, the far-right forces have been advocating for the annexation of the West Bank.
In fact, before signing the joint statement, the UK Foreign Office summoned the Israeli envoy in London on the 19th, asking for a suspension of construction in the E1 area. According to British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, London conveyed its ‘strong opposition’ to this measure taken by the Israeli government to the Israeli diplomats.
In response, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a statement on social media platform X on the 20th, criticizing Miliband, stating that “the Jewish people have the right to live throughout Israel, just as the British had the right to live in London and throughout Britain.”
Israel imposes strict restrictions on the freedom of movement of Palestinians in the West Bank. Palestinians must obtain permission to pass through checkpoints and travel to East Jerusalem or Israel. In most cases, these routes are completely closed to traffic.
Approximately 3 million Palestinians live on the West Bank, adjacent to them are over 500,000 Israeli settlers—according to international law, these settlements are considered illegal.
According to UN statistics, as of mid-July, at least 1111 Palestinians (including at least 243 children) have died in incidents attributed to radical settlers or military invasions in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
