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This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
The E1 Settlement Plan is a settlement project that envisages the construction of new settlement units and various infrastructure projects in the area between the eastern West Bank and the Ma’ale Adumim settlement. The plan encompasses a corridor extending geographically from east of East Jerusalem to Ma’ale Adumim. This area is recognized under international law and United Nations resolutions as part of the Palestinian territories under occupation.
Daily life under Israeli attacks in Gaza, 11 August 2025 – (Anadolu Agency)
The project is regarded under international law as an expansion of settlements in occupied Palestinian territories and, if implemented, would sever the connection between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, thereby isolating East Jerusalem from the rest of Palestinian territory.
The Israeli government has justified the construction of settlements in the E1 area as necessary to “link existing settlements” and to integrate Ma’ale Adumim with Jerusalem. The housing units and infrastructure elements planned under the project aim to expand housing and transportation opportunities for Israeli settlers living in the region.
The Palestinian side and the majority of the international community have assessed that the plan would disrupt the land connection between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, leading to geographic fragmentation and isolating East Jerusalem from Palestinian territory. In this regard, the project is viewed as a step that could obstruct the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders.
The first steps toward the E1 Settlement Plan were taken in 1999. At that time, Israel designated an area of approximately 12,000 dunums for the project. A significant portion of this land was declared by the Israeli administration as “state land” and subsequently planned to be connected to the Ma’ale Adumim settlement. The initial designs of the project included industrial zones, security outposts, waste collection centers, residential units, hotels, and public parks.
The E1 plan could not be implemented in the early 2000s and especially in 2012 due to international pressure. In 2012, the Israeli administration took steps to implement the plan, but construction was suspended following strong reactions from the United States, the European Union, and other international actors. In 2020, a decision was announced to construct approximately 3,500 housing units, yet it was again not implemented due to external pressure.
In August 2025, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that the E1 project would be approved and that a large-scale settlement expansion would be carried out around Ma’ale Adumim. According to Smotrich, 3,401 housing units will be constructed near Ma’ale Adumim and an additional 3,515 units in surrounding areas under the project. The Israeli Civil Administration’s High Planning Council is scheduled to meet on 20 August 2025 to grant final approval for the project.
The E1 Settlement Plan includes large-scale housing construction around Ma’ale Adumim and along the E1 corridor. The plan envisages the construction of 3,401 housing units near Ma’ale Adumim and an additional 3,515 units in surrounding areas. Together, these figures aim to create a total of 6,916 new housing units. If implemented, the project would increase Ma’ale Adumim’s current housing stock by approximately 33 percent.
The plan is not limited to housing construction. Previous designs and updated versions of the plan also include the creation of new transportation routes, an industrial zone, a security outpost, a waste collection center, hotels, and public parks. Among the infrastructure projects are the expansion of road connections between Ma’ale Adumim and Jerusalem, along with measures designed to restrict access to Palestinian settlements.
If implemented, the E1 plan is expected to sever the land connection between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank and isolate East Jerusalem from Palestinian territory. The project also entails the displacement of Palestinian Bedouin communities in the region. In particular, the forced evacuation of Palestinian Bedouins living in the villages of Kefr Akab and Anata Shuafat is among the plan’s objectives. It has been reported that parts of 46 Bedouin communities have been displaced since 7 October 2023, with homes and schools demolished.
In August 2025, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the E1 Settlement Plan as a step “to eliminate the idea of a Palestinian state.” Smotrich stated that the goal is to connect Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem and to cut off transportation between Ramallah and Bethlehem. He further claimed that these steps constitute a historic declaration of Israel’s “sovereignty” over the West Bank. He also noted the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump for the project.
Smotrich argued that the project constitutes a “ground-level response to global efforts to recognize a Palestinian state.” He stated that this response will be delivered “not through documents or diplomatic decisions, but through the construction of homes and new neighborhoods.”
The E1 plan has also been supported by pro-settlement groups in Israel. Yisrael Gantz, Chairman of the Yesha Council, described the plan as a “historic achievement for the settlement movement.” Guy Yifrach, Mayor of Ma’ale Adumim, stated that the project will link Jerusalem with Ma’ale Adumim and called it a “national project.” Within Israeli domestic politics, the plan is viewed by far-right and nationalist parties as part of the “Greater Israel” vision.
Palestinian Presidential Spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh described the E1 Settlement Plan as “dangerous” and stated that this step aims to prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Rudeineh warned that settlement projects, alongside military operations in the Gaza Strip and settler attacks on Palestinian territories, would bring further instability and tension to the region.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the project constitutes a clear violation of international law, particularly United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, and characterized settlement expansion as part of policies of “annexation, forced displacement, and demographic alteration.”
The Israeli peace organization Peace Now stated that the plan is “fatal” for both Israel’s future and the two-state solution, warning that it would further fragment Palestinian land in the West Bank and sever Jerusalem from Palestinian areas. The Jerusalem-based organization Ir Amim warned that the E1 plan would entrench an “apartheid-like reality” and lead to a rapid deterioration in the economic and social conditions of Palestinians.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated in his remarks on the E1 Settlement Plan that all Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and their associated regime have been established and maintained in violation of international law. Guterres emphasized that such settlements “entrench the occupation, increase tensions, and erode the viability of the two-state solution.” He noted that construction in the E1 area would sever the connection between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank and seriously undermine the possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian state.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its July 2024 advisory opinion, ruled that Israel must immediately halt all new settlement activities in Palestinian territories and completely evacuate existing settlements. Israel has rejected this ruling.
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas stated that the E1 plan violates international law and further weakens the two-state solution. The EU emphasized that if implemented, the plan would permanently sever the geographic and regional connection between East Jerusalem and the West Bank and disrupt communication between its northern and southern parts. The EU has renewed its call to Israel to halt settlement activities.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said that Israel’s decision to construct 3,000 housing units in the West Bank constitutes “another violation of international law” and undermines the feasibility of the two-state solution.
The German Foreign Ministry called on Israel to halt settlement construction, stating that the plan violates international law and undermines the foundation of the two-state solution. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized that the E1 plan “would divide a future Palestinian state and constitutes a clear violation of international law.”
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that the E1 Settlement Plan violates international law and United Nations resolutions. The ministry stressed that the plan effectively separates the West Bank from East Jerusalem, targets the territorial integrity of a Palestinian state, and weakens the basis of the two-state solution. It affirmed that the only path to a just and lasting peace in the region is the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders, and reiterated Türkiye’s continued support for the legitimate cause of the Palestinian people.
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the plan by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to build settlement units that would separate East Jerusalem from the West Bank, describing it as a clear violation of international legitimacy resolutions. The Qatari administration emphasized its rejection of settlement expansion and forced displacement policies and called on the international community to act collectively to halt such practices. It reaffirmed its support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital within the 1967 borders.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the E1 plan as “a new step reflecting the Israeli government’s insistence on expanding its annexation of Palestinian land and altering the demographic composition of occupied territories.” The statement underscored that the plan constitutes a clear violation of international law, United Nations Security Council resolutions, and international treaties. Egypt warned that such steps would negatively affect regional security and stability and condemned the extremist rhetoric of the Israeli government.
The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the E1 project constitutes a clear violation of international law and an attack on the Palestinian people’s right to establish an independent state. The statement affirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories. Smotrich’s “radical and racist statements” aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state were strongly condemned, and the plan was unequivocally rejected.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs defined the approval of the plan as a step that blocks the peace option and poses a serious threat to the two-state solution. The statement noted that the E1 project aims to connect settlements east of Jerusalem with Ma’ale Adumim to prevent any potential Palestinian territorial expansion. These decisions were described as “a continuation of Israel’s illegal expansionist policies,” and the international community was urged to safeguard the rights of the Palestinian people.
The Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs assessed the plan as a direct threat to regional security and stability. The statement emphasized that such expansionist steps, which contradict national sovereignty principles and good neighborly relations, are rejected. Oman highlighted the increased need for peace and cooperation among regional countries and called on the international community to adopt a clear stance against such policies.
The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned Israel’s “Greater Israel” vision, stating that it seeks to undermine the sovereignty of regional states and destabilize regional stability. The statement affirmed that these plans constitute a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter and called for a firm and decisive stance at the Arab and international levels.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned statements by the Israeli Prime Minister regarding the annexation of parts of Arab countries’ territories, labeling them as “illegal, expansionist, and provocative” violations of international law and the UN Charter. The statement emphasized the need to respect the sovereignty of Arab states and declared the E1 plan unacceptable.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized statements on the E1 plan as “provocative,” stating that the plan violates international law, targets the sovereignty of Arab states, and threatens regional stability. It called on extremist elements within the Israeli government to abandon provocative actions and stressed that all settlement and expansion plans must be halted.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared its rejection and strong condemnation of the “Greater Israel” vision, stating that it envisages the annexation of Palestinian land and the territories of other regional countries, constituting a clear violation of international law. Indonesia emphasized that peace in the region is only possible through the protection of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the implementation of the two-state solution.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ismail Bekayi characterized Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s declaration of ambitions extending “from the Nile to the Euphrates” as evidence of a “fascist intent” against the territorial integrity of regional states. The statement emphasized that such rhetoric violates the United Nations Charter and the binding norms of international law and called on the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and all states to strongly condemn such statements.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) stated that Israel’s occupation and settlement activities violate international law, UN resolutions, and the ICJ’s advisory opinion, and called for their immediate cessation. The OIC urged the international community to halt these actions and hold those responsible accountable.
The U.S. Department of State did not issue a direct condemnation of the E1 plan but emphasized the importance of preserving stability in the West Bank for Israel’s security. The U.S. administration stated that its primary focus remains on ending the conflict in Gaza, releasing hostages, and delivering humanitarian aid.
The E1 Settlement Plan is defined under international law as the construction of settlements in occupied territories. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted on 23 December 2016, determined that all Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, constitute a “flagrant violation of international law” and have “no legal validity.”
Article 49 of the Geneva Conventions prohibits an occupying power from transferring its civilian population into occupied territory. The International Court of Justice, in its July 2024 advisory opinion, stated that Israel must immediately cease all settlement activities in Palestinian territories and completely evacuate existing settlements.
The United Nations Charter and other binding international agreements prohibit the acquisition of territory by force. In contrast, the settlements and infrastructure projects planned under the E1 project would unilaterally alter the status of the West Bank and reinforce de facto control over the area in violation of the international legal prohibition against forcible annexation.
The Israeli government defines the West Bank as “disputed territory” rather than “occupied territory.” This approach is based on the view that the final status of the areas captured in the 1967 Six-Day War should be determined through negotiations between the parties. Israel asserts that settlements have been built based on historical and religious ties and security needs. It also argues that settlements provide strategic depth and strengthen Israel’s security borders.
Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of the international community and international legal institutions consider all Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be illegal and support this view through UN resolutions.
On 16 August 2025, the foreign ministers of 31 Islamic countries, along with the General Secretaries of the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), issued a joint statement regarding Israel’s E1 settlement plan and related political rhetoric.
Infographic showing Israel’s “E1” settlement project in occupied West Bank – (Anadolu Agency)
The statement declared that the project, which aims to establish new settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and risks severing the connection between northern and southern parts of the West Bank, would undermine all efforts toward the establishment of a Palestinian state. It also strongly condemned statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding his “Greater Israel” vision and the racist declarations by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in support of the E1 plan.
The countries signing the joint statement include Türkiye, Bahrain, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Djibouti, Chad, Indonesia, Morocco, Palestine, Gambia, Iraq, Qatar, Comoros, Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Maldives, Egypt, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Oman, Jordan and Yemen. The statement reaffirmed that all these states remain committed to the Charter of the United Nations, particularly Article 2, Paragraph 4, which prohibits the acquisition of territory by force or threat of force.
The statement emphasized that Israel’s E1 plan constitutes a clear violation of international law, as it seeks to alter the demographic composition and legal status of occupied Palestinian territory, breaches United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, and directly attacks the Palestinian people’s right to establish an independent state within the 1967 borders. It also referenced the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice affirming that the occupation is illegal and must be brought to an immediate end.
The statement underscored that Israel’s policies pose a threat to regional security, detailing the consequences of initiatives targeting holy sites, settler attacks, military operations against Palestinian cities and refugee camps, forced displacement of civilians, and the humanitarian impact of the blockade and starvation policy imposed on Gaza. It noted that these actions weaken the prospects for peace and intensify cycles of violence in the region. The statement explicitly rejected forced displacement of Palestinians, demanded unimpeded humanitarian aid to Gaza, and insisted that the blockade on Gaza must be lifted without delay.
The statement reaffirmed that Gaza is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory and emphasized that the Palestine Liberation Organization must assume full national governance responsibilities as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. It issued a strong call to the international community, particularly the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, to compel Israel to halt its aggression and settlement policies, provide international protection to the Palestinian people, and hold perpetrators accountable.
On the same day, the World Union of Muslim Scholars issued a separate statement condemning Netanyahu’s “Greater Israel” rhetoric. The statement declared that this vision is illegitimate and contrary to international law, asserting that Israel’s policies of Judaizing Jerusalem, forcing Palestinians into exile, and expanding settlements amount to “systematic genocide and ethnic cleansing.” The Union called upon Islamic countries to unite against settlement projects and declared its rejection of any normalization with Israel. It also urged the international community not to remain silent on Israel’s annexation and occupation policies and to take concrete steps in response.
The E1 Settlement Plan has reemerged as an initiative by Israel to construct thousands of housing units and infrastructure projects between East Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim. The plan aims to divide the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, isolating East Jerusalem from Palestinian territories. The international community argues that this initiative violates international law and undermines the two-state solution. The project is expected to be submitted for final approval on 20 August 2025.
August 15, 2025
Objectives and Goals of the Plan
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History and Development Process
August 15, 2025
Technical Details of the Plan
August 15, 2025
Israeli Statements
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Palestinian Reactions
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International Reactions
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Legal Framework
August 19, 2025
Joint Statement by 31 Islamic Countries, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Gulf Cooperation Council