The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli decision on Thursday, stressing that the plan "ignores international law and UN resolutions" and aims to undermine the unity of the Palestinian territories and the prospects for a two-state solution.
In a similar statement, Saudi Arabia condemned in the "strongest terms" the approval of settlement construction around occupied Jerusalem, considering it a continuation of illegal expansionist policies and a serious threat to the two-state solution.
For its part, Qatar described the move as a "flagrant violation" of international legitimacy resolutions and stressed the need for the international community to take action to compel Israel to halt its settlement plans.
Egypt also condemned the announcement of the construction of 3,400 settlement units, considering it a "flagrant violation" of international law and Security Council resolutions, and warned against changing the demographic structure of the occupied territories.
Jordan, for its part, rejected the plan, considering it "an attack on the Palestinian people's right to establish their independent state," while the Organization of Islamic Cooperation described the settlement project as "illegal colonialism that must be ended immediately."
Internationally, Germany expressed its categorical rejection of the plan, stressing that the construction of settlements violates international law.
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In a similar vein, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares considered the decision a "new violation of international law" that undermines the two-state solution.
As for the European Union, its foreign policy chief, Kaya Kallas, stressed that proceeding with the E1 plan undermines the prospects for peace and violates international law.
On Thursday morning, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Smotrich, who also holds a position in the Defense Ministry overseeing settlement affairs, announced approval for the construction of 3,401 new settlement units near the Ma'ale Adumim settlement and 3,515 units in the surrounding area.
E1 is an Israeli settlement plan that aims to connect Jerusalem to a number of Israeli settlements located to its east in the West Bank, such as Ma'ale Adumim, by confiscating Palestinian land in the area and establishing new settlements, preventing any potential Palestinian expansion.
In parallel with the genocide in Gaza, the Israeli occupation army and settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, killed at least 1,014 Palestinians, injured nearly 7,000 others, and arrested more than 18,500, according to Palestinian data.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with American support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.
