Sharp condemnation of E1 and summoning of the Israeli representative in London: "We demanded an immediate change from Netanyahu"

"Unacceptable, destructive - and puts the two-state solution at risk": The new British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband strongly condemned this morning (Thursday) the tender published by the Ministry of Construction for the building of 1,234 housing units in the E1 area - and summoned the head of the Israeli embassy in the UK, Christian Cantor, for a reprimand.

The E1 project, considered one of the most politically sensitive due to its strategic location between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim, "will strike at the heart of Palestine and risk separating the West Bank from East Jerusalem, which could jeopardize the viability of the two-state solution," Miliband stated. "The UK has been clear, both privately and publicly, in its opposition to the project and its support for the two-state solution as the only way to ensure long-term security and peace for both Palestinians and Israelis alike," added the British minister, who took office exactly a month ago. "All settlements undermine this possibility and constitute a flagrant violation of international law."

According to him, he clarified to Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar that the government must "stop the E1 plans immediately, withdraw the tender, and halt all settlement expansion. In addition, the Israeli representative was summoned to the Foreign Office, where we presented the UK's deep opposition to this step by the Netanyahu government and demanded an immediate change. The impact of settler violence and terror has been catastrophic for Palestinian communities. Settlement expansion and attempts to create irreversible divisions on the ground threaten peace, security, and the prospects for a viable Palestinian state."

"The UK will not stand by and accept the destruction of the two-state solution. In the coming weeks, we will present a comprehensive set of measures to respond to the Israeli government's policy, protect the existence of the Palestinian state, target sanctions against those participating in illegal settlement expansion, and support a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians."

The new construction tender, for which the final submission date is October 19, caused a stir in Europe. A European diplomat said that "Israel explicitly promised its friends on the continent that there would be no progress in construction in E1. Therefore, this is crossing a red line." According to him, there is currently a discussion in Europe about whether to respond with measures against Israel already in the period before the elections. He estimated that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is behind the move for political reasons.

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Ma'ale Adumim's Position

The mayor of Ma'ale Adumim, Guy Yifrah, responded: "The soul of any city is the ability to allow its sons and daughters to continue living in it, to establish a family in it, and to build their future in it. Ma'ale Adumim suffered for 13 years from an inconceivable construction freeze, among other things due to pressures stemming from the ignorance of some European leaders and a lack of real familiarity with the reality on the ground."

"It is important to say clearly: E1 does not harm the freedom of movement of the Palestinians. The opposite is true. As part of the strategic changes in the area, Israel will invest hundreds of millions of shekels in infrastructure and roads that will allow for fast and continuous Palestinian movement from north to south," he claimed.

Yifrah added: "I suggest that the British Prime Minister and the UN Secretary-General turn a little more of their attention to the acts of atrocity occurring these days around the world, and less to the 'fake consequences' being spread regarding the E1 project. Ma'ale Adumim is a thriving Israeli city, and it will continue to grow, develop, and connect to Jerusalem. After long years of freezing, we do not apologize for our right to build the city's future and our children's future."

Last year, the government already approved a plan to build 3,401 housing units in the area, but the promotion of tenders for its implementation was delayed several times against the backdrop of international opposition. In May of this year, 11 countries, including the UK, France, and Germany, published a joint statement calling on contractors not to participate in construction tenders in the settlements.

The E1 area spans about 12 sq. km between East Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the tender, expressing "deep concern" and warning that construction in the area would sever the connection between the north and south of the West Bank, posing an "existential threat to the two-state solution."