The condemnation followed Israel’s opening of tenders for the construction of 1,234 settlement homes in E1, under a wider plan to establish a continuous Israeli settlement corridor linking occupied East Al-Quds with the illegal Ma’ale Adumim settlement.

The MWL described E1 as a “dangerous plan” and condemned “all illegal Israeli settlement policies” in the occupied Palestinian territory, saying such measures violate international law and United Nations resolutions and “undermine all peace efforts”.

It called on the international community to ensure an immediate halt to settlement policies and other measures aimed at “altering the geographical and demographic character” of the occupied Palestinian territory.

The organization also reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian people’s right to establish an “independent and sovereign Palestinian state”.

In a related development, the European Commission and seven additional countries on Friday joined a call for the Israeli regime to immediately withdraw its plans for the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank, one day after the statement was initially issued by the leaders of seven Western countries.

Greece, Austria, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and Belgium joined the statement, which was originally issued on Thursday by the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada and Norway.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen separately described the Israeli regime’s decision to publish construction tenders for the project as “unacceptable”.

“The Israeli Government’s decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project is unacceptable,” von der Leyen said in a post on US social media platform X.

The joint statement said Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law and called on the Israeli government to reverse its decision.

“International law is clear that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal. This is the position of the international community reaffirmed by the United Nations Security Council,” the statement said.

“At a time of grave instability in the West Bank with unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians, and serious restrictions on the Palestinian economy, this decision is even more concerning,” it added.

“We urge the Government of Israel to retract these plans immediately and end its expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Not only will they take us further from peace, but they further undermine Israel’s international standing,” the statement said.