image sourced from original article at Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced plans to approve tenders for over 3,000 new housing units in the contentious E1 area, situated between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim in the West Bank. The move marks a significant shift after decades of international opposition, with Smotrich declaring that the construction 'buries the idea of a Palestinian state.' The E1 project has long been criticized for potentially dividing the West Bank and undermining prospects for a contiguous Palestinian state.
Smotrich described the decision as a step towards strengthening Israeli sovereignty and connecting Ma'ale Adumim to Jerusalem. Critics, including the Peace Now watchdog, note that the approved plans represent a substantial expansion of Ma'ale Adumim, increasing its housing stock by about a third. While the tenders are not for the original E1 plan, they are expected to have major implications for the region's demographics and future political landscape.
