Jerusalem Post/Middle EastJordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt condemned Israel's E1 settlement expansion plan, a day after a joint statement from European nations did the same. Follow us on GoogleView of the unrecognized Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar, near Ma'ale Adumim, in the West Bank, on May 19, 2026. (photo credit: Wisam Hashlamon/Flash90)ByARIELLA ROITMANAUGUST 21, 2026 19:25Updated: AUGUST 21, 2026 19:29Foreign ministers from Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt condemned Israel’s E1 West Bank settlement plan in a joint statement on Friday. “The E1 settlement plan constitutes a dangerous escalation that further advances settlement expansion and annexation and undermines the geographical contiguity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly between the West Bank and East Jerusalem,” said the statement.The ministers alleged that the plan threatens the “viability and realization of an independent, contiguous Palestinian State” and “constitutes a direct challenge to international efforts aimed at achieving peace, foremost among them [US] President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan.”The ministers’ statement comes only a day after France, Germany, Britain and Italy released a joint condemnation of the E1 plan.The countries called the project “unacceptable,” with the UK threatening to prepare targeted sanctions against those involved in settlement expansion.Israeli minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich attends a press conference announcing his plans to approve more than 3,000 housing units in the E1 settlement project between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim, August 14, 2025. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)The government’s plan includes populating the West Bank’s E1 area, located between Ma’aleh Adumim and Jerusalem, with 3,412 new housing units expected to expand the settlement city by around 12 square kilometers. The Civil Administration's Higher Planning Committee approved the project in 2025.E1 plan 'tremendous,' 'major' news, says Ma'ale Adumim mayorMa’aleh Adumim Mayor Guy Yifrach announced the launch of the area’s first 1,400 housing units on Wednesday, praising the plan as “tremendous” and “major” news for the settlement and for Israel as a whole.The countries' ministers called for “immediate action” to halt the plan, “rescind all measures taken in connection with it, and cease all settlement activities and other measures aimed at altering the geographic and demographic character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”The statement also called upon the UN Security Council and other international actors to “uphold their responsibilities under international law and take urgent and effective measures to halt illegal settlement expansion, and to ensure the protection of the Palestinian people, safeguard their inalienable rights, including their right to self- determination, and realize their independent State, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.”The countries also expressed condemnation of recent violent attacks carried out by extremist settlers in the West Bank, and alleged that such attacks occurred with Israel’s support.“Such acts in no way diminish the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and constitute violations of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, while posing a serious threat to regional and international peace and security,” the statement said.Follow us on Google