Netanyahu signs E1 settlement expansion plan
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed the controversial E1 plan on Thursday, a project that aims to expand Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank near Jerusalem.
In multiple statements, Netanyahu reaffirmed that his government would never allow the establishment of a Palestinian state, adding, “What started in Gaza will remain confined to Gaza.”
“We have long vowed that there will be no Palestinian state, and indeed, no such state will be established,” he declared.
Netanyahu also stated, “There will be many cities like Ma’ale Adumim in our land,” referring to one of the largest Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
He emphasized that Israel’s eastern front is not Ma’ale Adumim but the Jordan Valley, asserting that his government is determined to act “on all fronts to achieve what he described as the eternity of Israel.”
The move has sparked widespread international condemnation. Numerous countries and human rights organizations have labeled the plan a violation of international law, while Israeli authorities claim it is necessary to meet housing needs and expand infrastructure.
The E1 plan includes the construction of thousands of new settlement units on Palestinian land between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim.
The move has sparked widespread international condemnation. Numerous countries and human rights organizations have labeled the plan a violation of international law, while Israeli authorities claim it is necessary to meet housing needs and expand infrastructure.
The E1 plan, which first surfaced in 1997, is considered one of the most dangerous settlement projects in the occupied West Bank. Its goal is to encircle Palestinian towns east of Jerusalem (Anata, At-Tur, Hizma) and prevent their expansion eastward. Strategically, it also aims to crush the possibility of Jerusalem serving as the capital of any future Palestinian state by severing the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, effectively eliminating its geographic continuity.
Just last month, Netanyahu made public comments in favor of the so-called “Greater Israel” vision, remarks that are now under scrutiny by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and have triggered widespread condemnation across the Arab world.
Netanyahu said he believes he is carrying a “historic and spiritual message” passed down through generations, remarks that aligned with Israel’s expansionist rhetoric and came 50 days after the Israeli Knesset voted to annex the West Bank.
His comments have sparked strong reactions from multiple Arab countries. Jordan condemned the statements as a “dangerous provocation” that threatens regional security, violates international law, and breaches the UN Charter. The Jordanian government warned of the serious consequences of such statements, calling them an incitement to ongoing violence and instability in the region.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar also condemned Netanyahu’s remarks, firmly rejecting the Israeli occupation’s settlement and expansionist policies. Both states reiterated their support for the Palestinian people’s historical and legal right to establish an independent and sovereign state on their land.
