Israel Advances Settlement Expansion Plan, Threatening Two-State Solution

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has given the green light to a controversial settlement expansion plan that aims to effectively split the occupied West Bank in half, a move that many believe will bury the idea of a Palestinian state.

Background

Smotrich announced on Wednesday that he planned to approve tenders to build more than 3,000 housing units for Israeli settlers in an area known as E1, which aims to connect existing settlements in Maale Adumim in the occupied West Bank with occupied East Jerusalem, according to reports from Middle East Eye and La Repubblica.

The E1 area, located to the east of Jerusalem and a few kilometers from Ma'ale Adumim, is a land corridor that has been a contentious point for years. Its construction would isolate the northern part of the West Bank from the southern part, compromising the territorial continuity necessary for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Key Developments

The plan, which has been frozen for decades due to international pressure, involves the construction of approximately 3,500 homes that will expand the existing settlement in Maale Adumim, effectively dividing the West Bank into two distinct parts. This move has been seen as a significant blow to the two-state solution, a solution supported by a majority of the international community, which envisions an independent Palestinian state existing side-by-side with Israel.

Smotrich's office stated that the plan would bury the idea of a Palestinian state, and continued to say that the construction in E1 is a part of the de facto sovereignty plan that we began implementing with the establishment of the government, as reported by Middle East Eye and ANSA.

Implications and Reactions

Critics argue that the E1 plan would further cut occupied East Jerusalem from the West Bank, and further separating the north and south of the territory, reports The Guardian and BBC News. Palestinians view East Jerusalem as an indispensable part of any future state, according to Daily Nation.

The Palestinian government and its allies have condemned the plan, calling it illegal. Several countries, including France, the UK, and Canada, are reportedly preparing to recognize Palestinian statehood in light of these developments, as per Deutsche Welle.

Conclusion

Despite the controversy and condemnations, Smotrich remains resolute, stating, After decades of international pressure and freezes, we are breaking conventions and connecting Maale Adumim to Jerusalem, according to Middle East Eye. The plan has won approval, but a procedural step remained, as reported by New York Times.

The advancement of the settlement plan marks a significant shift that could have far-reaching implications for the future of a two-state solution, and the prospect of peace between Israelis and Palestinians.