▲ Israeli settlement in the West Bank
The Israeli government has launched a surprise tender for construction contractors aiming to build a settlement in the E1 area of the West Bank, a Palestinian residential region, according to reports by the BBC and other broadcasters on the 19th (local time).
The E1 zone is a 12-square-kilometer tract of land nestled between East Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim, a major Jewish settlement in the West Bank.
If a Jewish settlement is built there, East Jerusalem will be physically cut off from the northern West Bank, effectively splitting the West Bank in two and isolating East Jerusalem.
Such a move could also deal a severe blow to the "two-state solution" between Israel and Palestine, which is largely accepted by the international community.
Due to the sensitivity and explosive nature of the issue, Israel had previously delayed construction of the E1 settlement, but has been pushing forward with the plan since last year despite international concern and criticism.
The Israeli government approved the construction of 3,401 housing units in the E1 settlement in August of last year and posted a contractor bidding notice in December. However, facing lawsuits from civic groups and pressure from the international community, it suspended the process three times before abruptly opening bidding for 1,234 units on this day.
The bidding deadline is set for October 19, just eight days ahead of Israel's general election.
Pointing this out, the BBC noted, "If the current government signs contracts with contractors (before the general election), it may be difficult for the next government to cancel them."
Peace Now, a civic group that filed a lawsuit opposing the E1 settlement construction, criticized the move, stating, "Even if this construction plan is only partially implemented, the West Bank will be divided into north and south, and East Jerusalem will be isolated. It will destroy the possibility of ending the conflict and achieving a peace agreement based on the two-state solution."
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the bidding announcement.
Britain criticized Israel's move as "unacceptable and destructive," summoning the Israeli charge d'affaires to the country to express its "total opposition" to such actions.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband stated, "We have made it clear to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar that the Israeli government must immediately halt the E1 plan, cancel the bidding, and stop all settlement expansion," while promising to announce measures in response within weeks.
Additionally, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy issued a joint statement urging Israel to "immediately cancel this plan and end West Bank settlement expansion."
The four nations pointed out, "This decision is even more concerning at a time of severe instability in the West Bank, marked by unprecedented levels of settler violence against civilians and severe restrictions on the Palestinian economy."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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