France, Germany, Italy and Britain have issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s decision to publish new construction bid offers for the settlement project in E1, a strategically contested area of the West Bank between Jerusalem and the Ma’ale Adumim settlement.
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Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich presents a plan for construction in the E1 area. Credit: Menahem Kahana / AFP
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich presents a plan for construction in the E1 area. Credit: Menahem Kahana / AFP
The joint statement urged the Israeli government to retract the plans “immediately” and “end its expansion of settlement in the West Bank. ” Not only will they take us further from peace, but they further undermine Israel’s international standing,” the statement warned.
Businesses were also warned of bidding for construction tenders in connection with the construction plans. Businesses “should be aware of legal and reputational consequences,” the statement warns, “including the risk of involving themselves in serious breaches of international law.”
Earlier on Thursday, a group of human rights groups and Palestinian communities have requested that the Jerusalem District Court issue an interim injunction ordering a freeze of the first tender issued by the Housing Ministry for Israel’s settlement construction plans in E1.
The groups, who have previously petitioned against the settlement project, are asking the court to issue the interim injunction pending the court’s decision on their petitions. They also asked the court to prevent additional tenders from being issued and to prevent any step to advance the plans until the court’s decision is made.
In their joint statement, the four European countries called the tender “unacceptable” and reaffirmed their support for a two-state solution.
According to the petitioners’ request, the tender was issued and opened for bids without notifying the petitioners in advance. They said this was contrary to what had been promised to them, and represented a material change in circumstances since the court rejected previous requests for an interim injunction.
According to the petitioners, issuing the tender while legal proceedings are ongoing – before the state has submitted its response to standing petitions – could create irreversible facts on the ground and undermine the possibility of granting effective relief should the petitions be accepted.
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שטחי E1 סמוך למעלה אדומים, במאי Credit: איתי כהן
שטחי E1 סמוך למעלה אדומים, במאי Credit: איתי כהן
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מסיבת עיתונאים שנערכה במעלה אדומים לקראת אישור תכנית E1, בשבוע שעבר Credit: אוליבייה פיטוסי
מסיבת עיתונאים שנערכה במעלה אדומים לקראת אישור תכנית E1, בשבוע שעבר Credit: אוליבייה פיטוסי