Foreign Secretary has condemned the Government of Israel's publication
of a tender for the E1 settlement project.
He said:
This Israeli Government's publication of a tender for the E1
settlement project is an unacceptable and destructive act.
E1 would cut across the heart of Palestine and risks separating
the West Bank from East Jerusalem, which would endanger the
viability of a two-state solution.
The UK has been clear privately and publicly in our opposition to
E1 and our support for a two-state solution as the only way to
ensure long-term security and peace for both Palestinians and
Israelis. All settlements damage that prospect and are a flagrant
breach of international law.
Today, I made clear to the Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar
that the Israeli Government must halt E1 plans immediately,
retract the tender and stop all settlement expansion.
In addition, the Israeli Chargé d'Affaires has been summoned to
the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, where we set
out the UK's profound objection to this move by the Netanyahu
government and demanded an immediate reversal.
The impact of settler violence and terrorism has been
catastrophic for Palestinian communities. Settlement expansion
and attempts to create irreversible divisions on the ground
threaten peace, security and the prospects for a viable
Palestinian state.
Britain will not stand back and accept the destruction of the
Two-State Solution.
In the coming weeks we will set out a comprehensive set of
measures to respond to Israeli government policies, protect the
viability of the Palestinian state, target sanctions at those who
participate in illegal settlement expansion and support a just
and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.
