What Is Israel's E-1 Plan Condemned by 8 Islamic Nations and Prompting the UK to Consider Sanctions?

Condemnation from Arab nations and the international community over Israel’s settlement expansion policy in the occupied West Bank continues to mount.

The foreign ministers of eight Arab and Islamic countries have expressed their rejection of the “E-1” settlement plan and the various illegal settlement activities linked to it east of occupied Jerusalem.

In a joint statement issued on Friday evening (22/8/2026), quoted from Al Jazeera, the foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt stated that the “E-1” project constitutes a “dangerous escalation” that would expand settlements and the annexation of Palestinian territory.

According to them, the project would also sever the geographical continuity of the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly between the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

This situation is deemed to threaten the possibility of establishing an independent, geographically contiguous and viable Palestinian state.

The ministers also reiterated their condemnation of violations and acts of violence committed by settlers, with the support of the Israeli occupation authorities, against the Palestinian people and their property.

They affirmed that the two-state solution remains the only viable path to achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.

The “E-1” plan itself includes new Israeli tenders for the construction of 1,234 settlement units.