Spain and Sweden join in: global opposition to construction in the E1 area is growing
Spain, Sweden, and Romania have joined the group of nations opposing Israel's planned construction in the E1 area. European countries are currently considering potential sanctions in response to the project.
After Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, and Norway expressed their opposition to the expansion of construction in the E1 area, one of the most controversial territories beyond the Green Line, Spain, Sweden, and Romania announced on Friday that they would also join the joint statement. In it, European countries are expected to condemn the project and once again call for a two-state solution.
As reported previously, the government decided to promote the construction of approximately 1,200 housing units in the E1 area — about two and a half months before the elections. As part of the global opposition to the move, sanctions against Israel are currently being considered in Europe, including the labeling of products from Israel, the reduction of academic cooperation, and the cessation of security and diplomatic cooperation.
The list of sanctions is also being considered following cases of violence by settlers against Palestinians in the territories, but construction in E1 is the straw that broke the camel's back for the European countries. The E1 area, which is located beyond the Green Line between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim, is positioned in such a way that if Israel builds there in the quantities it is planning, it will cut off the possibility of territorial contiguity for a future Palestinian state.
