Israel's E1 settlement: securing Jerusalem, or burying a Palestinian state?

Published May 25, 2026 · 09:00 GMT

Israel cleared the final hurdle for the long-frozen E1 settlement east of Jerusalem — over 3,400 homes. Ministers hail it as cementing Israeli control; Palestinians and the UN say it severs the West Bank and ends any two-state future.

The summary above is a neutral framing. Below, each side reports the same story in its own words — judge for yourself.

Israel

Netanyahu and Finance Minister Smotrich champion E1 as fulfilling a pledge that 'there will be no Palestinian state' — expanding Ma'ale Adumim and cementing Israeli control around Jerusalem.

Palestinians & the UN

Palestinians, the UN and rights groups call it de facto annexation that splits the West Bank in two, severs East Jerusalem, drives mass displacement, and destroys the viability of a Palestinian state.

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