The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands issued a joint statement condemning Israel's publication of tenders for 1,400 housing units in the E1 area, calling the plan illegal under international law and damaging to a two-state solution. The statement also warned construction companies that participating could entail legal consequences and reputational harm, according to the statement reported by The Zioneer.
Five European nations — the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands — issued a joint statement Friday condemning Israel's publication of tenders for 1,400 housing units in the E1 area and warning construction companies that participation could entail legal consequences and reputational harm. The coordinated warning marks the most direct pressure yet from Europe on the project, which would connect Ma'ale Adumim to Jerusalem.
The E1 plan was first marketed on August 18 after decades of delays, drawing immediate international opposition. On Thursday evening, the UK, France, Germany, and Italy condemned the plan as "unacceptable," with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responding to British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband that "the British Mandate in the Land of Israel has ended." Later that evening, Norway and the Netherlands joined the condemnation. Today's statement represents an escalation, adding the Netherlands to the core group and formally warning companies of legal risk.
As The Zioneer has reported, European opposition has been building for months. In June, the UK advised businesses to avoid activity in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, while six nations — including the UK, France, and Canada — imposed sanctions on organizations and individuals they accuse of enabling violence. Canada later stated that communities in Judea and Samaria are illegal under international law, and French President Macron called for a halt to settlement expansion. The Netherlands has advanced legislation to ban goods from Jewish communities.
Today's statement does not announce new sanctions, but the coordinated, explicit warning to companies signals intensified European opposition. It remains unclear whether individual governments will pursue legal enforcement against firms that proceed with the tenders.
3 developments
- DevelopingUK advises businesses to avoid activity in settlements; six nations impose sanctions on settler violence enablers
- StrongPolitical analysis: Only 11 EU member states backed settlement trade restrictions
- DevelopingEight countries condemn Israeli activity in Judea and Samaria, call on UN Security Council to act
- DevelopingIsrael begins marketing of 1,400 housing units in E1, connecting Ma'ale Adumim to Jerusalem
Source and signal
- Open-source intake