Israel approves controversial E1 settlement plan: Siege of Jerusalem and division of the West Bank
According to international media reports, the Israeli regime officially approved the controversial settlement plan in the E1 area on Wednesday (20th of August).
The plan, which includes the construction of more than 3,400 housing units near the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim in East Jerusalem, critics say it would separate East Jerusalem from the Palestinian areas of the West Bank and divide the area into northern and southern parts.
Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli Minister of Finance and a leader of the far-right, called this decision “historic” and announced that the Palestinian state will be destroyed not by slogans but by practical measures; “Every settlement, every region, and every residential unit is a nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea.”
The project, which had been stalled for more than two decades due to international pressure, including from the United States, is now moving forward with the support of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and without serious opposition from the new American administration.
The E1 area, located near the town of Ma’ale Adumim and East Jerusalem, is strategically vital for connecting the cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem.
