European Leaders Condemn Israeli E1 West Bank Settlement Plan, Citing International Law Violations
France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, and Canada have issued a joint statement condemning Israel's decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project in the West Bank. The leaders assert that this settlement expansion is unacceptable and undermines the prospect of a two-state solution by fragmenting the West Bank and harming the territorial contiguity of Palestinian territories. They emphasize that international law clearly states Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal, a position reaffirmed by the United Nations Security Council. The statement highlights that this decision is particularly concerning given the current instability in the West Bank, marked by unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians and severe restrictions on the Palestinian economy. The international community has previously voiced grave concerns about this settlement expansion both privately and publicly. 
