Britain, joined by 21 other nations, formally protested Israel’s advancement of housing plans in the E1 corridor, warning the project could breach international law and undermine a two-state solution.
Tensions between London and Jerusalem escalated Thursday after the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) confirmed that Israel’s Ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, was summoned for a meeting over Israel’s decision to advance construction in the highly sensitive E1 area, just east of Jerusalem.
The move came after Israel’s Higher Planning Committee pushed forward long-debated housing plans in the corridor connecting Jerusalem to Ma’ale Adumim — a project fiercely opposed by Western governments and Palestinian leaders alike.
In a coordinated rebuke, the UK joined 21 other countries in issuing a joint letter condemning the decision.
According to the statement, the governments argued that:
- The construction violates international law,
- It risks creating a territorial split that would cut the West Bank in two,
- And it could block the viability of a future Palestinian state under a two-state framework.
The E1 zone has long been a flashpoint in Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy. Supporters in Israel view it as essential for securing Jerusalem’s eastern flank and ensuring territorial continuity. Critics warn it would sever Palestinian territorial contiguity, effectively dooming negotiations for a two-state solution.
By summoning Hotovely, London signaled that it sees the E1 advancement not just as an internal planning decision, but as a strategic challenge with global consequences.
