The official statement, released by the press office of the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, emphasizes that construction in this zone would undermine prospects for a settlement based on the coexistence of two states.
Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including the E-1 zone, are illegal under international law, the statement stresses, warning that this initiative “will split the territory in two, isolate East Jerusalem, and undermine the viability of lasting peace.”
Local international law experts note that the expansion in E-1 constitutes a direct challenge to United Nations resolutions. The advocacy group Shalom Achshav (Peace Now) reported that, in August 2025, Israeli planning authorities approved 3,400 housing units near the Ma’ale Adumim settlement.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated on August 8 that these actions aim to erase the Palestinian state. Days later, on August 14, he announced the reactivation of the E-1 project, despite international opposition.
Political analysts agree that the move exacerbates tensions in the West Bank, where settler violence is reaching record levels.
The international community views these unilateral steps with alarm, while the European bloc insists that only dialogue and respect for international law can guarantee the coexistence of two democratic states within secure and recognized borders.
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