In the West Bank city of Maale Adumim, Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stood on a dusty hill and made an announcement that shook politics in the region: Israel will move forward with building a huge new settlement — one that could split the West Bank in two and cut it off from East Jerusalem.
Smotrich’s own office said this plan would “bury” the idea of a Palestinian state forever.
Why This Settlement Matters
The area where Israel wants to build — known as E1 — has been a hot political topic for years. If the plan goes ahead, it would link the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim to Jerusalem, cutting through the land where Palestinians hope to build their future country.
Palestinians, their allies, and human rights groups are calling the move illegal. They say it would destroy any chance for internationally backed peace talks to succeed.
Smotrich’s Defiant Message
Smotrich said this project was not just an idea — it’s a message to the world.
“Whoever tries to recognize a Palestinian state will get our answer, not with papers or speeches, but with facts: houses and neighborhoods,” he declared.
He claimed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump had agreed to revive the plan, though neither has confirmed it.
A Long History of Stalled Plans
The E1 project has been stopped before. In 2012 and again in 2020, Israel froze the construction after the United States, European nations, and other powers said it would damage peace efforts.
But since the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 and the start of the Gaza war, Israel’s settlement building in the West Bank has sped up sharply — something Palestinians fear is part of a bigger plan to make a Palestinian state impossible.
The Details of the New Plan
Smotrich’s spokesperson said the project will build 3,401 new houses for Israeli settlers. These homes will sit between Jerusalem and the existing settlement of Maale Adumim — effectively blocking Palestinian movement through the area.
The minister says the plan takes effect this Wednesday, but he didn’t explain exactly what will happen that day.
International Backlash
Reactions from around the world were quick and angry:
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Breaking the Silence, a group of former Israeli soldiers, accused Smotrich of using the Gaza war as cover to expand settlements, saying it would deepen the “apartheid” situation.
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Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for the Palestinian president, urged the US to pressure Israel to stop.
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Qatar, a key mediator in the Gaza conflict, called the plan a “blatant violation of international law.”
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Norway’s Foreign Minister said the move proves Israel wants to take Palestinian land to block a two-state peace deal.
What’s Next for the Plan
Peace Now, a group monitoring settlement activity, warned the E1 project could start quickly once it gets final approval from Israel’s High Planning Council. They predict:
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Infrastructure could begin in a few months.
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Actual house construction could start within a year.
They called the plan “deadly for the future of Israel” because it destroys the path to a peaceful two-state solution.
The Bigger Picture
Right now, about 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem decades ago — a move most countries do not recognize — but it has not formally taken over the West Bank.
The United Nations and most world powers say these settlements are illegal under international law. Israel disagrees, claiming the West Bank is “disputed,” not “occupied.”
Several countries, including Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, recently put sanctions on Smotrich and another far-right minister, accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians.
Political Pressure at Home
Smotrich’s popularity has fallen, with polls suggesting his party might not win a single seat if elections were held today. Still, his strongest support comes from settlers — the very people who would benefit most from the E1 project.
For Palestinians, this plan feels like the final nail in the coffin of their dream for independence. For Smotrich, it’s a promise to make Israel’s hold on the West Bank permanent.
