ع
In their joint statement released on August 21, 2026, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt categorically rejected Israel’s E1 settlement plan east of occupied East Jerusalem while condemning continued settlement policies across the occupied Palestinian territory. According to the statement, the ministers also denounced violations and acts of violence by settlers, carried out with the support of Israeli authorities, against Palestinians and their property. The group stressed that these practices violate international law and relevant United Nations resolutions and pose a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.
The statement warned that the E1 plan constitutes a dangerous escalation advancing settlement expansion and annexation that would undermine geographical contiguity between the West Bank and East Jerusalem. It noted that such steps threaten the viability of an independent, geographically contiguous Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The ministers highlighted that the measures challenge international peace efforts, particularly the comprehensive peace plan of US President Donald Trump, including its rejection of annexation and forced displacement.
Reaffirming their position, the eight foreign ministers stated that the two-state solution, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, remains the only viable path to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace. They cautioned that actions undermining this framework would further escalate tensions, threaten peace and security, and reduce prospects for stability across the region. The statement expressed support for accountability measures, including international sanctions targeting those responsible for illegal settlement activities including the E1 plan as well as entities supporting or implementing them.
The ministers called for an end to any support or financing that contributes to the establishment, expansion or consolidation of illegal settlements. They urged immediate action to halt the E1 plan, reverse all associated measures and cease settlement activities or other steps that alter the geographical and demographic character of the occupied Palestinian territory. In addition, the group appealed to the UN Security Council, individual states and relevant international actors to fulfill responsibilities under international law by taking urgent steps to stop illegal settlement expansion, protect the Palestinian people and uphold their inalienable rights including self-determination.
This joint appeal follows Israel’s issuance of tenders for the construction of more than 1,200 housing units in the E1 zone, a development that has drawn widespread international criticism. A report from Euronews detailed how leaders from seven Western nations including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada and Norway similarly demanded that Israel retract the plans immediately and end settlement expansion across the West Bank.
Plans for the E1 area, which spans approximately 12 square kilometers and would effectively bisect the West Bank, have been shelved for decades due to international pressure but were revived by the current Israeli government, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation. The BBC assessment found that the project is viewed by many allies and Palestinians as dealing a major blow to hopes of a two-state solution.
