The governments of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada issued a joint statement on Thursday condemning Israel's decision to open tenders for approximately 1,200 new settlement homes in the E1 area of the West Bank. The five nations called the plans "unacceptable" and requested that Israel retract them immediately. The United Nations secretary general and Belgium's foreign minister also issued separate statements opposing the development.
The E1 project covers roughly 12 square kilometers (4.6 square miles) situated between East Jerusalem and the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim. While all settlements are considered illegal under international law, Israel previously deferred construction in this specific corridor for decades following international pressure. The Israeli government approved 3,401 housing units for the area in August 2025, and the housing ministry issued tenders for 1,234 of those units on Wednesday.
The joint statement from the Western powers cited concerns regarding "grave instability" and "unprecedented levels of violence by settlers" in the West Bank. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar (party not reported) rejected earlier criticism from UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich previously stated that the settlement expansion was intended to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. The project has faced legal challenges in Israeli courts from Israeli peace groups and Bedouin Palestinians residing in the area.
For residents, the implementation of these tenders will result in the construction of 1,234 new housing units, changing the physical landscape and land use of a 4.6-square-mile area. The BBC reports that expansion has increased since late 2022 under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government. The timing of the tenders is significant for the Israeli electorate and future policy; the deadline for construction bids is set for October 19, 2026. This date falls just eight days before the Israeli general election scheduled for October 27, 2026.
Legal experts and international observers note that issuing these tenders shortly before an election makes it more difficult for any subsequent government to reverse the decision. The knock-on effects include potential shifts in Israel's international standing and increased tension in the West Bank, where Western powers have already noted "serious restrictions" on the Palestinian economy. Following the October 19 bid deadline, the process will move toward formalizing contracts for the new construction.