Daijiworld Media Network- Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, Aug 15: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced the commencement of work on the controversial E1 settlement project, a move that would effectively split the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem. Smotrich declared that the development would “bury” the idea of a Palestinian state.

The E1 site, located east of Jerusalem, is one of the last geographical links between Ramallah and Bethlehem. Once completed, the settlement would force Palestinians travelling between the two cities to take a significantly longer route and pass through multiple checkpoints.

Standing at Maale Adumim, Smotrich said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump had agreed to revive the project, though neither has confirmed the claim. The minister stressed that the settlement would present “facts on the ground” to counter international recognition of a Palestinian state.

Israel had previously frozen construction at Maale Adumim in 2012 and again in 2020 following objections from the US, European allies and other world powers, who view the project as a threat to peace negotiations.

Smotrich has approved the construction of 3,401 housing units for Israeli settlers between the existing West Bank settlement and Jerusalem. The Palestinian leadership has condemned the plan, with presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh urging the US to intervene and halt the expansion.