In a significant escalation of tensions, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced the advancement of the controversial E1 settlement construction project in the occupied West Bank, a move that threatens to derail prospects for Palestinian statehood. The E1 area, located east of Jerusalem, represents one of the last geographical connections between major Palestinian cities Ramallah and Bethlehem. Smotrich explicitly stated that this construction would effectively „bury the idea of a Palestinian state,” as it would physically sever the West Bank into disconnected segments, forcing Palestinians to navigate lengthy detours and multiple checkpoints for basic travel. The project, which has been under consideration for over two decades and previously frozen due to international pressure, is expected to receive final approval on August 20, with construction potentially beginning within months.
The announcement has drawn swift and widespread condemnation from Palestinians, human rights organizations, and the international community. Ahmed Al-Deek, political adviser to the Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister, labeled the move „colonial, expansionist, and racist,” emphasizing its role in fragmenting Palestinian territory and undermining any viable statehood framework. Rights group Peace Now warned that the settlement expansion is „deadly for the future of Israel” and would guarantee continued bloodshed by destroying any possibility of a two-state solution. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated calls for Israel to halt all settlement activity, noting that such construction violates international law, entrenches occupation, and systematically erodes the feasibility of a Palestinian state.
This development occurs against a backdrop of increasing violence and hardship for Palestinians in the West Bank, where settler attacks, evictions, and movement restrictions have intensified even as global attention remains focused on the war in Gaza. With over 700,000 Israelis now living in settlements across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem—areas captured in 1967 and claimed by Palestinians for a future state—the E1 project symbolizes the Israeli government’s hardline stance, dominated by ultranationalist politicians with close ties to the settlement movement. As several countries prepare to recognize Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly, Smotrich’s declaration represents both a practical and symbolic challenge to diplomatic efforts, ensuring that the path to peace remains fraught with obstacles and heightened tensions.
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Forrás: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/israel-announces-west-bank-settlement-093415616.html.