Israel approves settlement plan to erase idea of Palestinian state

Source: Reuters

Israel approves settlement plan to erase idea of Palestinian state

By Reuters
August 20, 2025 2:47 PM EDT Updated 20 hours ago

Summary
• Project was previously frozen after US, European objections
• Restarting construction could further isolate Israel
• Advocacy group says work could begin within a few months

JERUSALEM, Aug 20 (Reuters) - A widely condemned Israeli settlement plan that would cut across land that the Palestinians seek for a state received final approval on Wednesday, according to a statement from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

The approval of the E1 project, which would bisect the occupied West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, was announced last week by Smotrich and received the final go-ahead from a Defence Ministry planning commission on Wednesday, he said.

"With E1, we are delivering finally on what has been promised for years," Smotrich, an ultra-nationalist in the ruling right-wing coalition, said in a statement. "The Palestinian state is being erased from the table, not with slogans but with actions."

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-approves-settlement-plan-erase-idea-palestinian-state-2025-08-20/

Alternate link: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/israel-approves-settlement-plan-erase-141930655.html