Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that plans to construct over 3,000 homes in the long-disputed E1 settlement area between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim will effectively “bury the idea of a Palestinian state.” The E1 project has been stalled for decades due to strong international opposition, as development there would sever the West Bank from East Jerusalem. Smotrich argued that the move will make Palestinian statehood impossible, declaring, “there is nothing to recognise and no one to recognise.” He emphasized the project as a fulfillment of Zionism and a reaffirmation of Jewish sovereignty, framing the land as a divine gift to the Jewish people.

The announcement drew swift international condemnation. The US State Department cautioned that a stable West Bank is essential for Israel’s security and regional peace, while the UN and EU urged Israel not to proceed. The UK Foreign Minister called the project a “flagrant breach of international law” that would divide any future Palestinian state. Despite this, Smotrich insisted that recognition of a Palestinian state by countries such as the UK and France “is not going to happen.” The controversy underscores deepening tensions between Israel and much of the international community over settlement expansion and the future of the peace process.

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SOURCE: BBC