Israel is pushing ahead with plans to construct a vast illegal settlement in the heart of the West Bank, effectively severing the north and south of the occupied territory. The project, known as E1, aims to create an "irreversible fact on the ground" that would undermine efforts to reach a two-state solution.
The Israel Land Authority posted a tender for the construction of 3,401 homes in December, with companies having until mid-March to submit bids. This is a significant escalation in the effort to advance settlement construction in E1, which has been a decades-old idea with cross-party backing in Israel.
Critics argue that building settlements in this area would critically damage efforts to reach a two-state solution, as it would create an apartheid regime. Settlement Watch said the timeline suggests bulldozers could start work in less than a year.
The decision has been condemned by over 20 countries, including Israeli allies France and Canada, which describe it as an "unacceptable violation of international law" that risks fuelling further violence.
Israel's far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who is himself a settler, described the project as intended to "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state. The government has stated that there will be no Palestinian state, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said so at a recent ceremony presiding over an agreement to fund infrastructure construction for E1.
The rapid progress towards breaking ground is unprecedented, with tenders usually taking six months to a year to prepare. This accelerated timeline suggests that bulldozers could start work in less than a year if the process continues without interruption.
Experts warn that this would be a critical blow to efforts to reach a two-state solution and that Israel is doing everything it can to create irreversible change throughout the West Bank as fast as possible.
The settlement construction comes amid a surge in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, with hundreds killed since October 2023, including at least one in five children. The UN's international court of justice has ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories violates international law and ordered it to end the occupation "as rapidly as possible" and make full reparations for its "internationally wrongful acts".
The Israel Land Authority posted a tender for the construction of 3,401 homes in December, with companies having until mid-March to submit bids. This is a significant escalation in the effort to advance settlement construction in E1, which has been a decades-old idea with cross-party backing in Israel.
Critics argue that building settlements in this area would critically damage efforts to reach a two-state solution, as it would create an apartheid regime. Settlement Watch said the timeline suggests bulldozers could start work in less than a year.
The decision has been condemned by over 20 countries, including Israeli allies France and Canada, which describe it as an "unacceptable violation of international law" that risks fuelling further violence.
Israel's far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who is himself a settler, described the project as intended to "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state. The government has stated that there will be no Palestinian state, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said so at a recent ceremony presiding over an agreement to fund infrastructure construction for E1.
The rapid progress towards breaking ground is unprecedented, with tenders usually taking six months to a year to prepare. This accelerated timeline suggests that bulldozers could start work in less than a year if the process continues without interruption.
Experts warn that this would be a critical blow to efforts to reach a two-state solution and that Israel is doing everything it can to create irreversible change throughout the West Bank as fast as possible.
The settlement construction comes amid a surge in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, with hundreds killed since October 2023, including at least one in five children. The UN's international court of justice has ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories violates international law and ordered it to end the occupation "as rapidly as possible" and make full reparations for its "internationally wrongful acts".
Oh man, this is like a real-life video game where the player is Israel and they're just trying to level up their settlement game 
. But seriously, 3,401 homes in one go? That's like me trying to order 3,401 pizzas for my next party 
. Can't wait to see how this all unfolds... or does it? The UN is like the game moderator and they're not having it 
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It's like Israel is trying to solve the whole "conflict" thing by just... existing 
. Newsflash: that doesn't work 
. And what's with Bezalel Smotrich being a settler and saying he wants to "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state? Sounds like someone's got some issues with sharing 
.
. Guess that's what happens when you build a massive wall around someone 
. Oh wait, Israel already has a wall... or two... or three 
.
. Can we all just get along? Maybe over some pizza 
oh man, this is so messed up... like, I get that both sides have a lot of history and emotions tied up, but can't they just chill for a sec? 
building 3,401 homes in the West Bank is crazy! and it's not even like it's a neutral spot, it's right next to Ramallah and Jericho... doesn't that mean there should be some kind of balance or something? 
. If it goes through, it'll be a huge blow to any chance of a two-state solution 
. I mean, we've seen how escalating settlements can create an apartheid regime and further divide the region 
. We need to think about the long-term effects on both Israelis and Palestinians 
. The UN court has already ruled that this occupation is against international law, so what's driving Israel to push through with this? 
. This conflict needs a peaceful resolution, not just more division and anger 
.
20+ countries are like "hold up, Israel, slow down!" 
That's some serious speedball 
. Stats show that since October 2023, over 400 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank 
. And let's not forget the UN ruling that says Israel's occupation is basically a crime against humanity 
! i mean, 3401 homes in one spot? that's just crazy talk! and can you believe bezalel smotrich saying it to bury the idea of a palestinian state? like, what even is that? 
and experts are all "oh no, this is gonna make a two-state solution super hard" 
but i gotta ask, when will ppl in israel wake up and be all "wait a minute"? 
️. All this building and construction stuff just makes me think about how hard it must be for people who have to live in these areas with all that tension around them 
. I mean, can't they just have a civil conversation about this stuff? Is that too much to ask?
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. They need to rethink their strategy and start talking to Palestinians like adults 
Israel is like a kid in a candy store, can't stop building 
Meanwhile, the world is over here like "hold up, that's not how it works" 
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That's just creepy. And Netanyahu's statements on this matter? They're always so casual and dismissive.
! The fact that they're pushing ahead with building 3,401 homes in E1 without considering the consequences for a two-state solution is just devastating 
. I mean, can you imagine what it would be like to live under an apartheid regime? It's like, we're supposed to be living in a world where everyone has equal rights and respect 
. And what really gets me is that Bezalel Smotrich is a settler himself, so he's literally pushing for his own interests over the well-being of Palestinians 
.
. Can we please just have peace and equality in the Middle East? 
. And then you got France and Canada condemning this as an "unacceptable violation of international law"... but like, can't Israel just listen to them for once?