Israel is pushing a new settlement plan in the E1 area of the West Bank

The Israeli government has pushed a new settlement plan in the West Bank, despite international condemnation, which would divide the region and undermine the chances of reaching a two-state solution.

In this context, the Israeli Ministry of Housing issued an announcement inviting bids to build more than 1,200 housing units in the “E1” area near Jerusalem. It is a step aimed at establishing a continuous Jewish settlement bloc extending from East Jerusalem all the way deep into the West Bank.

This settlement project would divide the West Bank into two parts (northern and southern), making the establishment of a geographically contiguous Palestinian state impossible, in addition to separating East Jerusalem - which is seen as the capital of that state - from the rest of the West Bank.