NJN Blasts Approval of “Suicidal” E-1 Settlement Plan

Today, a committee of the Israeli Civil Administration gave final approval for a plan to establish a new settlement in the E1 area of the West Bank. The development of this settlement plan would make it impossible to create a contiguous Palestinian state in the West Bank, dealing a severe blow to the prospects of a future peace agreement.

It is no secret that this settlement plan was approved in order to make a Palestinian state impossible. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich – who also controls the Civil Administration – welcomed the news. Smotrich proudly exclaimed that with this move "the Palestinian state is being erased – not with slogans, but with actions."

NJN has always opposed settlement construction because it inherently violates Palestinian rights, because it places extensive security burdens on Israel, and because of what it does to the viability of a Palestinian state. 

In response, Hadar Susskind, President & CEO of New Jewish Narrative said: “Israel has no future if it cannot make peace with the Palestinians. There will not be peace without a Palestinian state, and there is no prospect of a viable Palestinian state if Israel effectively annexes E-1. 

“If Bezalel Smotrich is allowed to strangle the future state of Palestine by building in E-1, he will end up both destroying Israel and subjecting generations of Palestinians to life under a brutal occupation. Anybody who claims to be concerned with Israel's future – including President Trump and my own American Jewish community – must do everything possible to stop this suicidal move.”