Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced approval of a new settlement plan involving 3,401 housing units for settlers in the E1 area of the West Bank. Smotrich stated this plan would “bury the idea of a Palestinian state.” He will hold a press conference today alongside Yesha Council Chairman Israel Ganz and Ma’aleh Adumim Mayor Guy Yifrach, whose municipality will host the construction, according to Israeli media reports including the Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, and Ynet.
The E1 corridor (East 1), spanning 12 square kilometers within the Ma’ale Adumim municipal area adjacent to East Jerusalem, currently houses Bedouin communities and a major Israeli police station. The Jerusalem Post noted that the Peace Now organization previously labeled Smotrich’s plan a “death blow to the two-state solution,” arguing it would effectively bisect the West Bank and block the development of a metropolitan area connecting Ramallah, East Jerusalem, and Bethlehem.
However, Ynet reported that despite Smotrich’s public announcement, there has been no official confirmation of the plan’s final approval. The outlet observed that previous, widely publicized settlement housing projects have often faced years of delays after their initial announcements.