The location of E1 is significant because it is one of the last geographic links between Bethlehem and Ramallah.
Israel gave the final approval of a controversial regulation project in occupied West Bank which, according to experts, would damage the plans of any future Palestinian state territorially contiguous in territory.
The Israeli Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, who announced the plan on August 14, praised the “historic” decision and led approval as a reprimand to Western countries which have announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state in recent weeks.
“The Palestinian state is erased from the table not with slogans but with actions,” said Smotrich, a colonist himself.
“Each colony, each district, each accommodation is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea.”
The development of E1 stands, an open extent of Palestinian lands east of Jerusalem, has been being studied for more than two decades, but has been frozen due to the pressure of the United States during previous administrations. The construction of an establishment of Israel in occupied territory is considered illegal under international law.
E1 infrastructure work could start in the coming months and the construction of houses could start in about a year. The plan includes around 3,500 apartments which would be located next to the existing regulations of Maale Adumim.
“I am happy to announce that there is little time ago, the civil administration approved the planning of the construction of the E1 district,” said the mayor of Maale Adumim, Guy Yifrach on Wednesday.
The location of E1 is significant because it is one of the last geographic links between the major cities of the western Walm of Ramallah, to the north, and Bethlehem, to the south.
The two cities are separated by 22 kilometers (14 miles), but the Palestinians traveling between them must take a large detour and pass through several Israeli checkpoints. The hope among the defenders of a Palestinian state was that the region would serve as a direct link between cities.
“The regulation in E1 has no other goal than to sabotage a political solution,” said Peace Now, an organization following the expansion of the regulation in the West Bank.
“While the consensus among our friends around the world is to seek peace and a solution to two states, a government that has long lost the popular trust under the national interest, and we all pay the price.”
Last week, the United Nations urged Israel to reverse their decision to start working on the regulations.
“It would end the prospects for a solution to two states,” said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, to journalists.
“The regulations go against international law … (and) have further strengthened the occupation.”
Breaking the Silence, a group for the defense of Israeli rights created by former Israeli soldiers, had also qualified last week the plan to take land which “will not only fragment Palestinian territory more, but more anera anera.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel and promised to maintain open control over the occupied West Bank, annexed East Jerusalem and Gaza Ravay by the War – Territories that Israel seized in 1967.
The expansion of the colonies by Israel occurred in parallel with a marked increase in the attacks of the colonists against the Palestinians, the evictions of the Palestinian cities, the Israeli military operations and the control points which suffocate freedom of movement.
More than 700,000 Israeli settlers are now living on Palestinian land in occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
