EU urges Israel to halt tenders for E1 project, ‘ensure accountability’ for violent settlers

The European Union’s diplomatic branch puts out a statement condemning Israel’s issuing of a tenders for the controversial E1 settlement project near Jerusalem.

The statement charges that the planned construction will “divide the West Bank in two, isolating East Jerusalem,” and further undercut “the viability of a two-state solution.”

“These developments take place as the West Bank experiences further instability and record levels of settler violence. In this context, we note the recent charges brought by the Israeli prosecutors against some perpetrators of such violence,” the statement continues.

The EU calls on Israel “to withdraw the tender, halt its E1 plans as well as all other settlement expansion projects, and ensure accountability for settler violence.”