Leaders and heads of government from the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and Germany have labeled the Israeli government’s decision to issue tenders for the E1 settlement project as “unacceptable.” In a joint statement, Andy Burnham, Giorgia Meloni, Emmanuel Macron, and Friedrich Merz (CDU) argued that the international community has long opposed the expansion of settlements, having expressed serious concerns both privately and publicly. They stated that the E1 settlement area specifically undermines the prospects for a two-state solution by fragmenting the West Bank and damaging the territorial integrity of the Palestinian areas.
The European leaders emphasized that international law clearly states that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal. They affirmed that this stance is shared globally, reinforced even by the UN Security Council. “This decision is all the more worrying in a period of massive instability in the West Bank, characterized by an unprecedented level of settler violence against the civilian population and severe restrictions on the Palestinian economy,” they noted.
Burnham, Meloni, Macron, and Merz strongly urged the Israeli government to immediately withdraw these plans and cease the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. They cautioned that these plans not only push a peace solution further away but also continue to damage Israel’s international reputation.
Furthermore, the European leaders issued a warning to businesses, advising them not to consider applying for these building tenders. They urged companies to be fully aware of the legal and reputational consequences, including the risk of becoming complicit in serious violations of international law.
