UN Warns E1 Settlement Plan Could Split West Bank

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the “relentless" expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning that it is contributing to the largest displacement crisis in the territory since 1967.

In his quarterly report, Guterres said the continued growth of settlements is fueling violence, restricting Palestinians' access to their land and further entrenching the Israeli occupation. He argued that the expansion undermines Palestinians' right to self-determination and jeopardizes the creation of an independent, contiguous and sovereign Palestinian state.

The Secretary-General also warned against planned construction in the E1 area, saying new settlements there would effectively sever the link between the northern and southern West Bank. According to the report, this would seriously undermine the territorial contiguity of the occupied Palestinian territory and pose an existential threat to the two-state solution.

It also criticizes what it describes as impunity for violence committed by Israeli settlers, stating that such attacks often occur in the presence of, or with the support of, Israeli security forces.

(tasr, bak)