The E1 Plan: How Trump’s Policies Enabled a Critical Shift in Israeli Settlement Policy
For decades, the E1 plan – a controversial Israeli project to build settlements in a strategically sensitive area of the west Bank – remained stalled. Primarily, this was due to consistent pressure from the United States. however, the recent resurgence of support for Israel under a potential return of Donald Trump to the White House has dramatically altered the landscape, removing key obstacles and accelerating the plan’s implementation. This shift has profound implications for the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the viability of a two-state solution.Understanding the E1 Plan & Its significance
The E1 area lies east of Jerusalem, bordering the Palestinian city of Ramallah. Developing this land is critical to Israel’s right-wing agenda for several reasons:
Consolidating Jerusalem: E1 would effectively connect Jerusalem to the large settlement of Maale Adumim, solidifying Israel’s control over the area and making a future division of the city substantially more arduous.
Severing Palestinian Contiguity: Construction in E1 would physically divide the West bank, hindering the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state. Palestinians traveling between Ramallah and Bethlehem would face significantly longer routes.
Biblical & Historical Claims: The area is referred to by some Israelis as Judea and Samaria, invoking biblical and historical claims to the land.
The Impact of Shifting US Policy
The change in US policy under the Trump governance was pivotal. As Lior amihai,Executive director of Peace Now,explains,”The E1 plan was initiated three decades ago and it was always blocked due to American pressure. Now under Trump, they’re approving it. So certainly the lack of American resistance… enabled the Israeli goverment to approve it.”
Specifically, the Trump administration took several actions that emboldened Israeli settlement expansion:
moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem: This recognized all of jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a move widely condemned internationally as undermining peace efforts.
Lifting Sanctions on Settlers: Sanctions imposed on Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinians were removed, signaling a lack of accountability. creating a permissive Surroundings: The administration’s overall stance created an atmosphere where the Israeli government felt less constrained by international criticism. As Amihai notes,they “don’t have to hide anything,they can say it vocally out loud.”
A Surge in Settlement Activity
The results are stark. Israel has approved a record 25,000 settlement housing units in the West Bank this year alone, dwarfing the previous record of 12,000 in 2020. This surge is directly linked to the perceived green light from the US. These settlements currently house an estimated 700,000 Israelis, a number expected to grow wiht the E1 development.
Preparing the Groundwork – Decades in the Making
While diplomatic hurdles were significant, Israel has been quietly preparing for E1 development for years. The Samaria and Judea Police District headquarters were relocated there in 2008. Infrastructure projects,including highways,have been constructed to connect Jerusalem and Maale Adumim to the area. This demonstrates a long-term, strategic commitment to developing E1, nonetheless of international opinion.
palestinian concerns & Future Prospects
Palestinian observers fear that the E1 plan will effectively close off the area to their community, further fragmenting the West Bank and diminishing the prospects for a viable Palestinian state. While some, like Gilead Weinberg, suggest “space-saving arrangements” might be possible, the current trajectory points in a different direction.Hasan Jabarin, a Palestinian representative, is far more pessimistic. He believes that mere condemnations and diplomatic rhetoric will be insufficient to reverse the current course. “Wording there, condemnations here – it doesn’t make any change,” he states. “It will not push israel back in any way.”
The Path Forward: A Critical Juncture
The approval of the E1 plan, facilitated by a shift in US policy, represents a critical juncture in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It underscores the growing power of the Israeli right wing and the diminishing prospects for a two-state solution. Reversing this trend will require a essential reassessment of US policy and a renewed commitment to international law and a just resolution to the conflict. The current situation demands a proactive and assertive approach from the
