Egypt on Thursday condemned the announcement by far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich approving the construction of 3,400 new settlement units in the vicinity of occupied al-Quds.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Expatriates, Cairo said the move “reflects the Israeli government’s determination to expand its seizure of Palestinian land and alter the demographic reality of the territories it occupies, in blatant violation of international law, relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and international conventions.”

The statement also denounced what it described as “extremist remarks by the Israeli minister calling for the imposition of Israeli sovereignty and expansion of settlements in the West Bank”, calling them a new indication of “Israeli arrogance and deviation” that would not bring security or stability to the region, including to “Israel” itself, so long as it ignores the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.

Rejection of settlement expansion, ‘Greater Israel’ vision

Egypt reiterated its categorical rejection of these settlement policies and “abhorrent statements” by Israeli officials, warning that they fuel hatred, extremism, and violence. It further cautioned the Israeli regime against “falling for the delusional belief that the Palestinian cause can be liquidated and the so-called ‘Greater Israel’ realized, which cannot be accepted or allowed to happen.”

Cairo stressed that the Israeli regime's expansionist agenda directly contradicts regional and international efforts to achieve a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. It warned that any attempt to dismantle the Palestinian cause through displacement, land confiscation, and settlement construction would remain “futile and destined to fail.”

Call for two-state solution

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Reaffirming its stance, Egypt stated there is no alternative to implementing a "two-state solution" and establishing a Palestinian state in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions to secure peace and stability in the region.

The ministry concluded by stressing that the Israeli regime's continued rejection of peace and adoption of extremist policies remains the primary source of instability across the Middle East.

This comes after Smotrich officially advanced the controversial E1 settlement project, a long-stalled construction plan that threatens to permanently alter the geographic and political landscape of the occupied West Bank.

A contentious plan

The plan includes over 3,400 settlement units connecting the illegal settlement of "Ma'ale Adumim" to occupied al-Quds, effectively severing the West Bank into two, and blocking any possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state.

E1, or "East 1," is a 12-square-kilometer area between occupied al-Quds and the Israeli settlement of Ma'ale Adumim. For years, international opposition kept the project frozen, due to its grave implications for Palestinian statehood and violations of international law. The International Court of Justice ruled in 2024 that all settlement activities in the West Bank and East al-Quds violate the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Smotrich did not conceal the motive behind the plan, declaring, "This will bury the idea of a Palestinian state," calling it the "final nail in the coffin" of any idea of a Palestinian State. He emphasized that the plan was developed in full coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and with support from the US.

Smotrich's announcement to begin the construction of E1 settlements sparked outrage in occupied Palestine and beyond.

International law and the E1 plan

The E1 settlement project continues to draw international condemnation. The International Court of Justice has unequivocally stated that all settlements in occupied territories are illegal. The project is seen by legal experts, diplomats, and rights groups as a decisive blow to the "Two-state solution" and a tool for forced demographic change.

Despite this, "Israel" presses forward, emboldened by US backing and internal political consensus. As the situation escalates, Palestinian Resistance, both institutional and grassroots, remains steadfast in its opposition, framing the E1 project as an existential threat to the Palestinian national cause.

The European Commission voiced its opposition to the expansionist plan, declaring that the annexation of parts of the West Bank by "Israel" is illegal under international law. A spokesperson reiterated the EU's firm stance against the displacement and eviction of Palestinians, emphasizing that such measures jeopardize the prospects for peace and a viable "Two-State solution." The commission urged "Israel" to halt all settlement activity immediately.