London: UK Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, announced the UK's strong opposition to Israel's decision to reintroduce the E1 Settlement Plan. This plan, which has been on hold since 2021, was recently announced by the central planning bureau of Israel's Civil Administration. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Falconer expressed his concerns via a post on X, emphasizing that the plan involves constructing over 3,000 houses to the east of Jerusalem. He highlighted the potential impact of the development, which would divide a prospective Palestinian state into two, contravening international law. In his statement, Falconer warned that if the E1 Settlement Plan were implemented, it would severely compromise the viability of a two-state solution. He reiterated that this solution remains the sole path to achieving lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.
