Malta has signed a letter among 21 other countries that include European countries, Australia and Canada, and also the EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, condemning Israel’s approval to build a new Jewish settlement in the E1 Area in the West Bank just outside of Jerusalem. The move by Israel is intended to disrupt plans to recognise a State of Palestine next month.
The E1 Area, which is adjacent to Ma’ale Adumim, has historically served as an intersection between various towns and cities including Jerusalem, Betlehem and Ramallah. It lies between the French Hill area of Jerusalem (west), Abu Dis (southwest), Kedar (south), Ma’ale Adumim (east), and Almon (north). The new E1 settlement will separate these Palestinian towns and communities and complicate the formation of a unified Palestinian territory. The settlement is planned to have up to 3,400 housing units, along with a new industrial zone, commercial infrastructure, tourism facilities, and also a cemetery.
Illegal settlements in the West Bank have been increasing along the years but this is a case of an officially-approved construction of a new settlement in what is considered Palestinian territory – Israel disputes this. The settlement project is not an isolated case and is part of a wider push by the current Israeli government and its extremist allies to fully take over the West Bank.
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