image sourced from original article at Israel has approved the long-stalled E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank, a move critics warn could permanently block the creation of a Palestinian state. The plan involves building over 3,400 housing units and commercial areas on land east of Jerusalem, connecting the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim to the city and effectively cutting off Palestinian cities such as Ramallah and Bethlehem from each other.
The E1 project, first proposed in 1999, has faced years of international opposition due to its strategic location and potential to fragment Palestinian territories. Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have celebrated the approval as a step against Palestinian statehood, while Palestinians and human rights groups say it will deepen inequality and restrict access to land.
With formal backing from Israel's planning authorities expected soon, infrastructure work could begin within months and housing construction within a year. The development is seen by many as a decisive move towards annexation of the West Bank and a major obstacle to future peace negotiations.
