Türkiye and seven other countries have condemned Israel's continued settlement policies in the occupied Palestinian territories and rejected the E1 settlement plan east of occupied East Jerusalem.
In a joint statement on Friday, the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates "unequivocally" condemned Israel's continued "illegal settlement policies" and categorically rejected the E1 plan and related settlement activities.
They also condemned violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property, saying such acts violate international law and relevant UN resolutions and pose a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.
The ministers warned that the E1 plan constitutes a "dangerous escalation" that advances settlement expansion and annexation while undermining the geographical contiguity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly between the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Challenging efforts to achieve peace
The statement said the plan threatens the viability of an independent and contiguous Palestinian state based on the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The ministers said such actions directly challenge international efforts to achieve peace, including US President Donald Trump's Comprehensive Plan and its rejection of annexation and forced displacement.
They reaffirmed that the two-state solution, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, remains "the only viable path" toward a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.
The ministers expressed support for accountability measures, including appropriate international measures and sanctions against entities and individuals responsible for illegal settlement activities, as well as those supporting, facilitating or implementing settlement expansion and annexation policies.
‘Urgent and effective measures’
They also called for an end to support or financing that contributes to the establishment, expansion or entrenchment of illegal settlements.
The ministers urged immediate action to halt the E1 plan, rescind measures taken in connection with it and cease settlement activities and other measures aimed at altering the geographic and demographic character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
They called on the UN Security Council, states and other international actors to take "urgent and effective measures" to halt illegal settlement expansion, protect Palestinians and safeguard their rights, including the right to self-determination and an independent state.
The E1 plan seeks to connect the illegal Ma’ale Adumim settlement with occupied East Jerusalem through Israeli construction on Palestinian land and includes roughly 3,400 settlement units.
