Germany Urges Israel to Halt Controversial E1 Settlement Plan

Germany Calls for Halt to E1 Project

Germany has urged Israel to halt its controversial E1 West Bank settlement project, warning that construction in the area risks creating more instability and jeopardizing a two-state solution. The call was made on Friday, January 9, 2026, by German officials who reiterated Berlin's long-standing opposition to Israeli settlement expansion.

The E1 Project: A Threat to a Two-State Solution

The E1 area, short for 'East 1', is a strategic tract of land covering approximately 12 square kilometers (4.6 sq mi) in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, located adjacent to and northeast of East Jerusalem, within the municipal boundary of the Israeli settlement of Ma'ale Adumim. Israeli authorities recently notified their intention to proceed with the project, which includes plans for thousands of new housing units, with a tender for 3,401 homes reportedly posted in mid-December.

Critics, including Germany, argue that the E1 plan is particularly contentious because it would effectively sever the northern and central West Bank from the south, thereby preventing the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state. It also risks cutting off East Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has openly stated that the plan is intended to 'bury the Two-state solution' and thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Jerusalem Governorate has warned that the project constitutes a practical step toward Israel's annexation plan for the E1 area and could entrench a system of 'traffic apartheid', while also threatening the displacement of Bedouin communities.

Germany's Firm Stance on International Law

German government human rights commissioner Lars Castellucci stated on X that 'The Israeli E1 settlement project to build thousands of new housing units is a clear violation of international law. It would divide the West Bank and further complicate a negotiated two-state solution and thus also lasting peace. Israel should stop building settlements.' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kathrin Deschauer further emphasized Berlin's position, asserting that 'The German government's position is very clear: settlement construction violates international law. We reject it outright.'

Deschauer added that such expansion undermines Germany's stated goal of achieving a negotiated two-state solution and contradicts international legal obligations, including rulings and guidance from the International Court of Justice. A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry also warned that the project 'carries the risk of creating even more instability, as it would further restrict the mobility of the Palestinian population in the West Bank.' Germany consistently views the two-state solution as the only lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Broader International Condemnation

Germany's call aligns with a broader international consensus. The international community largely considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law. More than 20 countries, including members of the European Union, have condemned the E1 plan as an 'unacceptable violation of international law.' A joint statement from the EU and Jordan also called on Israel to reverse the E1 plan. The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General has warned that the E1 project poses an 'existential threat' to the feasibility of a Palestinian state. The United Kingdom, for instance, summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest the decision, stating that 'If implemented, these settlement plans would be a flagrant breach of international law and would divide a future Palestinian state in two, critically undermining a two-state solution.'