Israel's plan to expand settlements in the West Bank is 'unacceptable,' say 21 countries

The separation wall next to the Arab neighborhood of Al-Eizariya, near where the Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement development project, on August 21, 2025. OHAD ZWIGENBERG / AP

Britain and France were among 21 countries to sign a joint statement on Thursday, August 21, calling Israel's approval of a major settlement project in the West Bank "unacceptable and a violation of international law". Israel approved the plans for the roughly 12-square-kilometer (five-square-mile) parcel of land known as E1 just east of Jerusalem on Wednesday.

"We condemn this decision and call for its immediate reversal in the strongest terms," said the statement of foreign ministers, whose signatories also included Australia, Canada and Italy.

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West Bank residents await bulldozers after Israel approves E1 settlement project