UK rejects E1 settlement plan

UK rejects E1 settlement plan

LONDON: British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has strongly opposed Israel’s plan to invite tenders for the construction of 1,200 new homes under the controversial E1 settlement project, warning that the move could seriously undermine prospects for a future Palestinian state and the two-state solution.

The British government has urged Israel to immediately withdraw the E1 plan, cancel the construction tenders and halt the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

A UK government spokesperson said Israeli settlement activity violates international law and remains a major obstacle to achieving lasting peace in the region. The government stressed that continued settlement expansion could further weaken efforts to establish a viable and geographically connected Palestinian state.

Miliband said Britain would continue to strongly support a two-state solution, arguing that it offers the best path toward lasting peace, security and stability for both Palestinians and Israelis.

The E1 area, located east of Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank, has long been a sensitive issue because large-scale settlement development there could divide Palestinian communities and complicate the possibility of creating a contiguous Palestinian state.

The British government’s latest warning comes amid continued international concern over settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories and its potential impact on future peace negotiations.