Israel Begins E1 Settlement Project

Why this is here: The E1 project plans to construct 3,400 new housing units for Jewish settlers in the West Bank, a move that observers say will further fragment the territory.

In the West Bank, Israeli authorities are demolishing Palestinian businesses to make way for the E1 settlement project. Mohammad Rahayal of Al-Eizariya watched bulldozers destroy shops belonging to his family, including a grocery, an electronics store, and a butcher shop. The E1 project, planned for years, intends to build 3,400 new homes for Jewish settlers between Ma'ale Adumim and East Jerusalem, along with a bypass road for Palestinians.

Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a settler himself, stated the project aims to bury the dream of a Palestinian state. Critics warn the project will further divide the West Bank and advance the de facto annexation of the territory, restricting Palestinian movement and isolating East Jerusalem. COGAT, the Israeli authority responsible for the area, claims the demolished buildings lacked permits—permits rarely granted to Palestinians.

Fahed al-Jabary rebuilt his car wash after its demolition, and others are preparing for potential further demolitions. Despite the uncertainty, residents of Al-Eizariya express determination to remain on their land, even if rebuilding becomes a recurring necessity. The work to implement E1 continues.