Britain Summons Israeli Envoy, Demands Halt to West Bank Settlement Project

Britain has summoned Israel's charge d'affaires to demand an immediate halt to a significant West Bank settlement project. The Israeli authorities recently opened bidding for more than 1,200 homes as part of the E1 plan, a move that has drawn widespread international condemnation.

British Foreign Minister Ed Miliband described the project as "an unacceptable and destructive act" that poses an "existential threat" to a contiguous Palestinian state and endangers the viability of a two-state solution. He stated that the Israeli government must halt the E1 plans, retract the tender, and cease all settlement expansion.

The E1 plan, approved by Israel last year, aims to build approximately 3,400 homes on a sensitive tract of land east of Jerusalem, situated between the city and the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim. This development would further separate occupied East Jerusalem from the West Bank, areas predominantly inhabited by Palestinians.

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The Israeli Government must halt E1 plans immediately, retract the tender and stop all settlement expansion.

In addition to summoning the Israeli diplomat, the British government announced it would unveil a comprehensive set of measures in the coming weeks, including sanctions targeting individuals involved in the "illegal settlement expansion." Miliband asserted that Britain "will not stand back and accept the destruction of the two state solution."

According to Israeli NGO Peace Now, the tender for the 1,200 housing units was published on August 18 and is open for bids until October 19, just a week before Israeli elections. The group accused the government of attempting to advance construction commitments before the vote, noting that these homes represent about one-third of the planned E1 development.

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Britain will not stand back and accept the destruction of the two state solution.