France, Germany, Britain and Italy call on Israel to stop settlement expansion

On Thursday (August 20, 2026), France, Italy, Britain and Germany called on Israel to “stop settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank” and “immediately withdraw” tenders launched this week to build more than 1,200 housing units within the framework of the “E1” project.

The four countries said in a joint statement today, Thursday (August 20, 2026), “At a time when the West Bank is witnessing a state of extreme instability characterized by unprecedented levels of settler violence against civilians and strict restrictions imposed on the Palestinian economy, this decision raises grave concern.” She added, "The E1 settlement will jeopardize the chances of a two-state solution, as it will create a division in the West Bank and undermine the unity of the Palestinian territories."

In August 2025, Israel gave the green light to the “E-1” settlement project, which includes the construction of about 3,400 housing units in the West Bank occupied since 1967, specifically in an area of ​​12 square kilometers east of Jerusalem, between the Maale Adumim settlement and East Jerusalem.

The Israeli non-governmental organization "Peace Now" reported on Tuesday that the Israeli Ministry of Housing issued a tender on August 18 that includes the construction of more than 1,200 housing units within the project. The deadline for submitting applications is October 19, that is, a week before the Israeli elections scheduled for the 27th of the same month.

Paris, London, Berlin and Rome stressed that these decisions regarding settlements will continue to "weaken Israel's position on the international scene."

The four European countries considered opening the door to tenders for the E-1 project “unacceptable,” warning companies that might be tempted to participate in it. "Companies should not consider bidding on these construction projects. They should be aware of the legal and reputational consequences, including the risk of complicity in serious violations of international law," its statement said.

Saar: “The Jewish people have the right to live in all of the Land of Israel”

In a separate position, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot described the tender as “unacceptable,” noting that the project “would seriously undermine the viability of the two-state solution.”

His conviction came after a statement by his British counterpart, Ed Miliband, on Wednesday, in which he demanded stopping the settlement project and expansion in the West Bank, while London summoned the Israeli Chargé d'Affairs. Miliband indicated that he conveyed the message directly to his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar.

On Thursday, Sa'ar rejected the British statement, denouncing in particular the "arrogant tone" contained in it. “The Jewish people have the right to live in all of the Land of Israel, and the British have the right to live in London and all of the United Kingdom,” Sa’ar wrote on X, accusing Britain of “holding Israel exclusively responsible, and ignoring Palestinian extremism.”

He believed that "the British government's decision to harm the relationship between the two countries is very regrettable," stressing that "Israel will defend its rights, interests and people."

The British government pledged on Wednesday to unveil a “comprehensive set of measures” in the coming weeks, including imposing sanctions targeting those involved in “illegal settlement expansion.”