The United Kingdom and six allied governments have issued a joint demand for Israel to withdraw construction tenders for the controversial E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank.
The statement was issued by the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada and Norway. They described the Israeli Government’s decision as “unacceptable” and warned that development in the E1 area would further undermine the prospect of a viable Palestinian state.
Allies warn project would divide Palestinian territory
The E1 area lies east of Jerusalem, close to the Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Adumim. Critics argue that extensive Israeli construction there would interrupt territorial links between the northern and southern West Bank and further separate the West Bank from East Jerusalem.
Israel has opened bidding for 1,234 homes forming part of a wider E1 plan covering approximately 3,400 housing units.
In their joint statement, the seven governments said the development would drive a wedge through the West Bank and harm the territorial continuity of the Palestinian territories.
They reiterated their position that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law, a position also reflected in United Nations Security Council resolutions. Israel disputes that interpretation and describes the territory as disputed rather than illegally occupied.
Warning issued to businesses
The statement urged the Israeli Government to retract the plans immediately and end further settlement expansion.
It also warned businesses against bidding for the construction contracts, saying companies should consider the possible legal and reputational consequences of involvement.
The leaders said the development would take the region further from peace and further damage Israel’s international standing. They reaffirmed their support for a negotiated two-state solution intended to provide security for Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state.
Israeli diplomat summoned
The joint intervention follows a separate statement from Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who described the publication of the tenders as an “unacceptable and destructive act”.
Miliband said he had spoken directly to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and demanded that Israel halt the E1 project, retract the tender and stop settlement expansion.
Israel’s chargé d’affaires was also summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to receive Britain’s formal objection.
The Foreign Secretary said the Government would announce a wider package of measures in the coming weeks. These could include targeted sanctions against people involved in settlement expansion, although the precise measures have not yet been published.
Israel rejects British criticism
Sa’ar rejected the UK’s intervention, characterising its criticism as patronising and defending the right of Jewish people to live in what he called their historic homeland.
The exchange represents a further deterioration in relations between the British and Israeli governments. The joint statement does not itself impose new sanctions, but it increases diplomatic pressure on Israel and explicitly discourages companies from taking part in the E1 development.
Sources
- UK Government: joint leaders’ statement on the E1 settlement plan
- Foreign Secretary’s statement on the E1 construction tender
- Times of Israel: bidding opened for 1,234 homes in E1
- i24NEWS: Israeli response to the UK criticism
