In the video: Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Walla editorial!)
The Civil Administration's District Planning Committee is expected to hold a hearing next week on one of the most sensitive building plans in the West Bank – in Area E1, which connects Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim. The upcoming discussion is of great concern to the United States and European countries.
Why it's important
- Area E1 is considered one of the most politically and internationally sensitive areas in the West Bank. For more than two decades, Israel has been under American and European pressure not to advance the construction plan in this area.
- The American and European concern is that construction in Area E1 will connect Ma'ale Adumim with Jerusalem and create an Israeli urban contiguity that will cut the West Bank in half and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state with territorial contiguity.
- The issue is considered even more sensitive in light of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's desire to stabilize relations with the White House and accept an invitation to meet with President Joe Biden. Holding the discussion is liable to increase tensions between Israel and the United States.
Biden and Netanyahu (Photo by Image Processing, Getty Images Images)
In the News Hub
- The hearing, scheduled for Monday, June 12, is largely technical and is intended to discuss public objections to the E1 construction plan. A senior Israeli official said that even if the discussion takes place, no practical decisions are expected at this stage on promoting construction at the site.
- However, after the objections are heard, the plan will pass another hurdle and promoting construction there will become easier. The United States and European countries want to prevent even the slightest progress on this plan.
- During the tenure of the previous government, the discussion of objections to the E1 construction plan was postponed twice at the request of the Biden administration and several European countries. This is the first time the issue has been discussed since the inauguration of the new right-wing government.
- At the end of last year, the Ma'ale Adumim municipality filed a petition with the court against the government, demanding that the objections be heard.
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What they say
- "The extreme and dangerous government in the depletion of the country is destroying any chance for a better future. After five years, this is another spit in the face of our American friends, and a direct continuation of the ongoing damage to Israel's security and political interests, all in order to please Smotrich's friends. It seems that the annexation government continues to operate according to an orderly plan that is dragging us into a reality of apartheid," Peace Now said.
- The Prime Minister's Office declined to comment.
- news
- Political-Political
Tags
- Judea and Samaria
- Ma'ale Adumim
- Jerusalem
- United States
