Riyadh [Saudi Arabia], August 22 (ANI): The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a group of Arab and Islamic countries, and a coalition of Western nations, including the European Commission, have strongly condemned Israel’s continued settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, with particular concern over the proposed “E1” settlement project, warning that it could undermine Palestinian territorial contiguity and prospects for a two-state solution.GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi on Saturday condemned Israel’s continued settlement plans in the occupied West Bank, including the E1 project, saying that advancing such plans represents a “blatant challenge to international legitimacy” and a systematic undermining of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”These practices by the Israeli occupation forces undermine the prospects of achieving peace and threaten international and regional efforts aimed at establishing an independent Palestinian state,” Albudaiwi said, according to the GCC General Secretariat.Albudaiwi also called on the international community to take a “serious and responsible stance” to halt settlement policies and plans and oppose measures aimed at changing the geographical and demographic reality of the occupied Palestinian territories.The GCC Secretary General reiterated the bloc’s support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions.In a separate joint statement issued on August 20, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Belgium, Spain, Austria and Greece also condemned Israel’s decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project.”The Israeli Government’s decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project is unacceptable,” the leaders said.They warned that the project could “undermine the prospect of the two-state solution by driving a wedge through the West Bank and harming the territorial contiguity of the Palestinian Territories.”The countries said the international community has long opposed settlement expansion and reaffirmed their position that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law, citing the position of the international community as reaffirmed by the United Nations Security Council.The joint statement also expressed concern over what the countries described as unprecedented levels of settler violence against civilians in the West Bank and serious restrictions on the Palestinian economy.The leaders urged the Israeli Government to “retract these plans immediately and end its expansion of settlements in the West Bank” and warned that the plans would move the region further away from peace and further undermine Israel’s international standing.They also called on businesses not to bid for construction tenders associated with the project, warning of potential “legal and reputational consequences” and the risk of involvement in what they described as serious breaches of international law.The countries reiterated their commitment to a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution”.The condemnation was echoed by the foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in a joint statement issued in Doha on August 21.The eight countries “unequivocally condemn” Israel’s continued settlement policies in the occupied Palestinian territory and “categorically reject” the E1 settlement plan and related settlement activities east of occupied East Jerusalem.The ministers also condemned violations and acts of violence against Palestinians and their property, which they said were perpetrated by settlers with the support of Israeli occupying authorities.They said such actions constitute violations of international law and relevant UN resolutions and pose a “serious threat to regional and international peace and security”.The ministers described the E1 plan as a “dangerous escalation”, warning that it would further advance settlement expansion and annexation and undermine the geographical contiguity of the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly between the West Bank and East Jerusalem.According to the ministers, this threatens the viability and realisation of an independent and contiguous Palestinian state based on the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.They further said the actions challenge international efforts to achieve peace and referred to US President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan, including its rejection of annexation and forced displacement, as well as mechanisms envisaged for its implementation.The ministers also cited Trump’s commitment “to not allow annexation of the West Bank” and said these efforts should contribute to stability and bringing the conflict to an end.The eight foreign ministers reaffirmed that the two-state solution, based on international law and relevant UN resolutions, remains the “only viable path towards a just, comprehensive and lasting peace”.They warned that measures undermining the solution could further escalate tensions, threaten regional and international peace and security, and jeopardise prospects for lasting peace and stability.The ministers also backed efforts to ensure accountability, including through appropriate international measures and sanctions against entities and individuals responsible for illegal settlement activities, including the E1 plan, as well as those supporting, facilitating or implementing settlement expansion and annexation policies.These come after Israel opened tenders for the construction of 1,234 homes for Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, moving forward with a major settlement expansion that rights groups warn could effectively divide Palestinian territory into two.According to Al Jazeera, the development is part of Israel’s planned “E1” settlement area, a stretch of Palestinian land intended to establish a continuous Israeli settlement corridor linking occupied East Jerusalem with the large settlement of Ma’ale Adumim, located about 7 km east of Jerusalem.The project could further restrict movement between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank and leave Palestinian communities on either side increasingly isolated. The settlement expansion is considered illegal under international law. (ANI)(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)