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Britain, Italy, France and Germany jointly condemned Israel's decision to advance construction tenders for the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, warning that the expansion would deal a serious blow to hopes for a two-state solution and further isolate Israel internationally.
In a joint statement, the four governments called the move "unacceptable," arguing that the E1 development would drive a wedge through the West Bank and damage the territorial contiguity of Palestinian land, effectively severing the northern and southern halves of the territory.
The governments framed their objection in explicit legal terms, stating that international law "is clear" that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal, a position they said has been reaffirmed by the UN Security Council. They noted that the international community has for years pushed back against settlement expansion through both private diplomatic channels and public statements, without success in halting the practice.
The E1 zone, which lies between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Maale Adumim, has for decades been viewed by Palestinian negotiators and Western governments as a critical piece of land whose development would foreclose the possibility of a geographically contiguous Palestinian state alongside Israel, a framework generally referred to as the two-state solution.
Beyond the settlement plans themselves, the four countries pointed to what they described as "unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians" in the West Bank, along with what they characterized as serious restrictions weighing on the Palestinian economy. Taken together, they said, these dynamics point to a deteriorating situation on the ground that demands an immediate response.
The statement called on Israel to withdraw the tenders and halt settlement expansion altogether, warning of the diplomatic cost of proceeding. "Not only will they take us further from peace, but they further undermine Israel's international standing," the governments said.
The four countries also directed a warning at the private sector, urging companies not to submit bids for construction work tied to the E1 project. They cautioned that firms involved could face "legal and reputational consequences," including exposure to allegations of complicity in "serious breaches of international law."
The statement closed by reaffirming the four governments' shared commitment to what they called a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution," adding: "We will continue to act in its interest."
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