In an unusually direct warning, the governments also urged private companies not to participate in the Israeli tenders.
By United with Israel Staff
The leaders of seven Western countries issued a joint statement Thursday condemning Israel’s move to advance construction in the E1 area, demanding that Jerusalem immediately retract the plans and warning companies against participating in the project.
The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Canada called Israel’s publication of construction tenders for E1 “unacceptable” and argued that development of the area between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim would undermine the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state.
“The international community has long opposed this settlement expansion, and has voiced their grave concerns privately and publicly,” the leaders said.
“The E1 settlement will undermine the prospect of the two-state solution by driving a wedge through the West Bank and harming the territorial contiguity of the Palestinian Territories.”
The statement also asserted that Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria are illegal under international law, citing the position adopted by the United Nations Security Council.
The seven leaders pointed to what they described as “grave instability” in Judea and Samaria, including violence by Israeli settlers and restrictions on the Palestinian economy, as making the decision particularly concerning.
“We urge the Government of Israel to retract these plans immediately and end its expansion of settlements in the West Bank,” they said. “Not only will they take us further from peace, but they further undermine Israel’s international standing.”
In an unusually direct warning, the governments also urged private companies not to participate in the Israeli tenders.
“Businesses should not consider bidding for construction tenders,” the statement said, warning of potential “legal and reputational consequences” and the risk of involvement in what the countries described as serious violations of international law.
The countries concluded by reaffirming their support for a two-state solution and pledging to continue acting toward that goal.
The joint statement follows Israel’s latest move toward implementing the long-delayed E1 project, also known as Mevasseret Adumim. The broader plan calls for approximately 3,400 homes in the roughly 12-square-kilometer area between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim.
The Israel Land Authority this week moved forward with marketing approximately 1,400 housing units, while a separate Housing Ministry tender covers roughly 1,200 additional homes.
The project has been discussed for decades but repeatedly delayed amid heavy international pressure. Supporters view development of E1 as strategically important for strengthening Ma’ale Adumim and Israeli territorial continuity around Jerusalem. The area is located in Area C, which remains under full Israeli administrative and security control under the Israeli-Palestinian agreements.
The international pressure intensified earlier Thursday when British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband separately condemned the tender and threatened further measures against Israel.
“Britain will not stand back and accept the destruction of the two-state solution,” Miliband said, announcing that London would unveil additional measures in the coming weeks targeting Israeli policies and settlement expansion.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded sharply, rejecting both Miliband’s position and what he called the “patronising tone” of his statement.
“The Jewish people have the right to live throughout the Land of Israel, just as the British have the right to live in London and throughout the United Kingdom,” Sa’ar said.
Sa’ar also accused Britain of hypocrisy and argued that the E1 decision itself was made in 2025, with the tender process already underway for months.
He further accused the British government of pursuing a one-sided policy that condemns Israel while overlooking Palestinian terrorism, incitement and the Palestinian Authority’s payments to terrorists and their families.
“The UK Government’s decision to damage the relationship between our countries is deeply unfortunate,” Sa’ar said. “But Israel will not be a passive victim of this policy. Israel will defend its rights, its interests and its people.”
Thursday’s seven-country statement significantly broadens the diplomatic pressure over E1, moving beyond criticism of the Israeli government to explicitly cautioning businesses against taking part in the construction tenders.
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