Poland has officially condemned Israel’s recent approval of new Jewish settlements in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank, warning that the move violates international law and severely undermines prospects for peace in the region.
In a statement released by the Polish Foreign Ministry, the government declared, “Poland firmly opposes plans to build new Jewish settlements in the E1 area of the West Bank.” The ministry further asserted that “The Israeli government’s decision of August 20, 2025, is in clear contradiction to international law,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Polish media.
The statement reiterated Poland’s unwavering support for “a two-state solution based on 1967 borders, allowing for peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine as endorsed by UN Security Council resolutions.” It also urged Israel to “halt support for the illegal settler movement in the West Bank” and condemned acts of violence against Palestinians.
The announcement follows the Israeli planning committee’s approval of 3,401 housing units northeast of Jerusalem, a development that would establish a continuous bloc of Jewish settlements linking central parts of the West Bank with the city. Critics argue that this project risks severing East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank, effectively dividing Palestinian territories into disconnected northern and southern enclaves.
The plan has drawn sharp international criticism, including from the United Nations, the European Union, and previously from the United States and other European governments, who view it as a significant obstacle to peace and the establishment of a future Palestinian state.
The West Bank is home to nearly 3 million Palestinians and over 500,000 Israeli settlers. Israel has maintained control over the territory since the 1967 Middle East war, with the majority of the international community considering all Israeli settlements there illegal under international law.
The current Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, opposes Palestinian statehood, contrasting with the positions of the UN and EU, which support its creation. In recent weeks, several countries—including France, Britain, Canada, and Australia—have announced plans to recognize Palestinian statehood.
Earlier this month, Poland reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defense “within internationally recognised borders” but strongly condemned the scale of civilian casualties in Gaza, stating that Israel has “failed in its obligation to protect civilians as an occupying power.”
Poland has long recognized Palestinian statehood since 1988 and continues to advocate for a peaceful resolution. The Polish Foreign Ministry underscored the humanitarian toll of the ongoing conflict, stating on August 4 that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was “resulting in an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe and civilian suffering.”
By Vafa Guliyeva