Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Amid escalating tensions in Gaza and growing international concern over its military operations, Israel on Wednesday gave final approval to a controversial settlement project in the occupied West Bank that could deal a decisive blow to the prospect of a geographically contiguous Palestinian state.
The project, approved by the Israeli Planning and Building Committee, involves the construction of approximately 3,400 housing units in the highly sensitive E1 zone, a 12-square-kilometer stretch of land between East Jerusalem and the Ma’ale Adumim settlement. Critics argue that this development would effectively split the West Bank into northern and southern enclaves, rendering the establishment of a viable Palestinian state virtually impossible.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a prominent far-right figure and staunch opponent of Palestinian statehood, hailed the decision as a strategic move to preclude any future two-state solution. Speaking at a press conference at the project site last week, Smotrich declared that the settlement expansion “buries the idea of a Palestinian state forever.”
The final green light for the E1 project came after all legal objections were dismissed earlier this month. Infrastructure work is expected to begin within months, with residential construction possibly commencing within a year.
“This is a historic step for Israel’s future and our presence in Judea and Samaria,” said Guy Yifrah, Mayor of Ma’ale Adumim, using the biblical term for the West Bank. “We are building not just homes, but facts on the ground.”
International Alarm Over West Bank Project and Gaza Offensive
The settlement plan has drawn sharp criticism from the international community. Diplomats and human rights groups have long warned that construction in the E1 corridor would not only undermine the territorial continuity of a future Palestinian state but also breach international law, which regards Israeli settlements in occupied territory as illegal.
The German government, in particular, voiced its concern on Wednesday over Israel’s intensifying military operations in Gaza, which come alongside the settlement expansion. Speaking at a routine press briefing, German government spokesperson Steffen Mayer said Berlin is finding it “increasingly difficult to understand how these actions will lead to the release of all hostages or to a sustainable ceasefire.”
Israel’s latest military push in Gaza includes plans to assert full control over Gaza City and has prompted the mobilization of approximately 60,000 military reservists. These developments come at a time when negotiations for a ceasefire with Hamas appear to be regaining momentum.
Growing American Public Support for Palestinian Statehood
Meanwhile, public opinion in the United States appears to be shifting toward support for Palestinian statehood. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 58 percent of Americans believe all United Nations member states should recognize a Palestinian state. Only 33 percent opposed such recognition, while 9 percent were undecided.
The survey was conducted over six days and concluded earlier this week, coinciding with announcements from key U.S. allies Canada, the United Kingdom, and France signaling their intent to officially recognize Palestine as an independent state. These moves have added to international pressure on Israel, especially in light of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, where famine conditions continue to worsen.
According to diplomatic sources, Israel is currently reviewing Hamas’s response to a proposed 60-day ceasefire agreement. The potential deal would involve the release of roughly half of the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza and the easing of restrictions to allow humanitarian aid into the besieged territory.
Settlement Plan Seen as Strategic Maneuver Amid Diplomatic Shifts
Analysts suggest that the E1 settlement approval is not only a domestic political victory for Israel’s right-wing government but also a signal to the international community in response to growing diplomatic recognition of Palestine.
“The Israeli government is making a clear statement: it will not accept any diplomatic solution that includes a sovereign Palestinian state,” said a Middle East policy expert based in Berlin. “By formalizing plans in the E1 zone, Israel is placing a near-insurmountable barrier to the two-state solution.”
As global powers express dismay and Palestinian leaders condemn the move as a deliberate act of sabotage against peace efforts, the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate. With Gaza teetering on the brink of collapse and hopes for a ceasefire hanging in the balance, the approval of the E1 settlement project marks a potentially irreversible shift in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one that could define the region’s trajectory for years to come.
