Controversial E1 housing project reignites global condemnation as Palestinians warn it could end hopes for a two-state solution.
Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced the revival of a long-delayed settlement plan in the occupied West Bank, declaring it would “bury” the prospect of a Palestinian state.
Speaking from Maale Adumim, Smotrich said the E1 project — which would connect existing settlements to Jerusalem — had been agreed upon with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump, though neither leader has confirmed this. “Whoever in the world is trying to recognize a Palestinian state today will receive our answer on the ground… with facts of houses, facts of neighborhoods,” he stated.
The E1 plan, frozen since 2012 due to opposition from the US, Europe, and other powers, calls for building 3,401 housing units between Maale Adumim and Jerusalem. Critics warn the development would physically divide the West Bank, severing East Jerusalem from Palestinian territories and making a contiguous Palestinian state impossible.
The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the move as part of “genocide, displacement, and annexation,” while Hamas labeled it “colonial” and urged resistance. Jordan denounced it as a blatant breach of international law. Peace Now, an Israeli watchdog group, warned the plan could be “deadly” for Israel’s future and any peaceful two-state solution.
Although construction still requires approval from Israel’s High Planning Council, infrastructure work could begin within months and housing within a year. The announcement comes as Israel’s military campaign in Gaza — launched after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack — has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Today, around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal under international law, a position rejected by Israel, which calls the area “disputed” and cites historical and biblical claims.
The move risks further isolating Israel at a time when several nations are preparing to formally recognize a Palestinian state. Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have already sanctioned Smotrich, accusing him of inciting violence in the West Bank.