The German federal government has sharply criticized Israel’s new plans for building in the E1 area of the West Bank. A spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in Berlin on Monday that Germany “condemns the tender published yesterday for over 1,000 housing units for the Israeli settlement project E1.” The government emphasized that this settlement construction violates international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The spokesperson added that the project complicates the path toward ending the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, a path required by the international community and the International Court of Justice, thus jeopardizing the prospects for a negotiated two-state solution. Furthermore, he noted that implementing the E1 settlement project would effectively divide the West Bank into two halves, primarily to the detriment of the Palestinian civilian population.
The German government is urging the Israeli government to halt the development. It affirmed that Germany will only recognize changes to the 1967 borders that have been mutually agreed upon by the conflicting parties, and firmly rejects any further annexation plans by the Israeli government.
Prior to the German condemnation, the Israeli Ministry of Construction had issued a tender for the development of more than 1,200 housing units for the E1 settlement project. This specific area is considered highly critical in the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
