E1 settlement expansion moves forward

Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich announces approval of thousands of new homes near Ma’ale Adumim, reviving the E1 project and signaling a push for de facto sovereignty in the West Bank.

Smotrich Approves E1 Settlement Expansion

Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said he is moving ahead with building 3,401 homes in the E1 area near Ma’ale Adumim and an additional 3,515 homes in nearby Tzippor Midbar. While there is no formal government authorization yet, Smotrich framed the plan as a continuation of a policy to expand footprint in the West Bank. Local figures welcomed the move. Yisrael Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council, called it a historic achievement for the settlement effort, and Ma’ale Adumim’s mayor argued the new neighborhoods would thwart Palestinian encirclement by illegal construction.

Supporters position the move as a practical step to connect Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem and to shift the balance of control on the ground. Critics warn the expansion would bisect the West Bank and undermine prospects for a contiguous Palestinian state. Peace groups have described the plan as a major setback to the two‑state solution. The Civil Administration under Smotrich’s leadership has pursued settlement expansion as part of a broader sovereignty strategy in the West Bank.

The announcement underscores a shift from paused diplomacy to a strategy that treats the West Bank as a domain of de facto sovereignty. If implemented, the E1 plan would reshape borders on the ground and heighten tensions with Palestinians and the international community. It raises the stakes for diplomacy, with potential backlash from neighboring states, donors, and allies who have pressed for restraint. Domestically, the move strengthens political leverage for Smotrich and like-minded figures, while feeding a broader debate about Israel’s long‑term plans in the territory.

At the same time, the path from declaration to reality is fraught. International actors may respond with warnings or sanctions, and local administration decisions could become entangled in legal and bureaucratic processes. The move also poses a test for Palestinian leadership, which may press for new diplomatic channels or escalate tensions. In the wider Israeli political landscape, the E1 project amplifies calls for sovereignty in the West Bank, even as voices urge caution about consequences for regional stability.

Highlights

The coming days will test how rhetoric translates into policy and what this means for residents on the ground.