Israel has given final approval for a highly controversial settlement project in the E1 area, a move that would effectively cut off the occupied West Bank from East Jerusalem and split the territory in two.
Construction in the E1 area had been frozen for two decades amid intense international opposition. Critics warn that the project would deal a severe blow to the prospects of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state.
Reports indicate that Israel has established roughly 160 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, housing around 700,000 Jewish residents since occupying the territories. These settlements are widely regarded as illegal under international law, a position affirmed by a 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, though Israel disputes this classification.
The approval has reignited international concern, with critics arguing that it undermines ongoing peace efforts and could exacerbate tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.