Israel's West Bank initiatives are deemed a violation of international legal standards, according to Albares' assessment.
The Israeli government's decision to build over 3,000 new homes in the West Bank has been met with widespread criticism from the international community. On August 21, 2025, foreign ministers from 22 nations and several international organizations issued a joint statement condemning the E1 settlement project as "unacceptable and a violation of international law."
The project, aimed at connecting East Jerusalem with the Maale Adumim settlement, poses a significant threat to the territorial contiguity between the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as the connection between the north and south of the West Bank. If implemented, it would permanently sever these connections and double the population of the settlement with 35,000 new residents expected in the coming years.
The UN Secretary-General has labelled the settlement plan an "existential threat to the two-state solution," while Germany has voiced strong opposition, highlighting that the settlement would further restrict Palestinian mobility and cut East Jerusalem off from the West Bank. The EU's Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Anitta Hipper, reiterated the EU's rejection of any territorial change not part of a political agreement between the parties and called on Israel to stop the construction of settlements.
In addition, Hipper emphasized that the Israeli policy of settlements, including demolitions, forced transfers, evictions, and confiscations of homes, must cease. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, condemned the plan as a violation of international law. The U.S. Ambassador to Israel, however, indicated that the U.S. would not interfere with Israel's decisions regarding the settlements, a departure from previous U.S. administrations that opposed construction in E1.
The international outcry is not limited to Western governments. Several European leaders, including the British Prime Minister and French President, have linked the settlement expansion to broader demands for a ceasefire in Gaza and recognition of a Palestinian state during the upcoming U.N. General Assembly. Locally, Palestinian communities, including Bedouin residents in areas slated for demolition, face displacement connected to the expansion plans, prompting additional humanitarian concerns.
In summary, the international community’s response is unified in opposition to Israel’s West Bank settlement expansion, viewing it as a critical obstacle to peace and a violation of international law, with calls for immediate reversal of the plans.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025). Israel's West Bank settlement plan sparks international outcry. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-58516488
[2] The Guardian. (2025). International condemnation of Israel's West Bank settlement plan. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/21/international-condemnation-of-israels-west-bank-settlement-plan
[3] Al Jazeera. (2025). Israel's West Bank settlement expansion sparks international criticism. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/21/israels-west-bank-settlement-expansion-sparks-international-criticism
[4] Reuters. (2025). UN chief calls on Israel to halt West Bank settlement expansion. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-chief-calls-israel-halt-west-bank-settlement-expansion-2025-08-21/
[5] Middle East Eye. (2025). Israel's West Bank settlement plan puts Bedouin communities at risk of displacement. [online] Available at: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israels-west-bank-settlement-plan-puts-bedouin-communities-risk-displacement
- The migration of Israelis to the West Bank, triggered by the construction of new settlements such as the E1 project, has become a hot topic in general news and politics, with foreign ministers from 22 nations and international organizations voicing their disapproval.
- The international policy-and-legislation community sees the Israeli West Bank settlement expansion as a violation of international law, with consequences like putting Palestinians at risk of displacement and making peace negotiations more challenging.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts in Gaza and the Israeli settlement policy have been linked in recent news, as international leaders demand a ceasefire and recognition of a Palestinian state alongside Israeli settlement halt, emphasizing the importance of preventing further territorial changes.
