London, 11th June 2026 – ICJP has issued a letter to the Foreign Secretary raising concerns over Israel’s advancing E1 project and illegal Israeli settlements. Israel continues to demonstrate a complete disregard for the international laws and norms that the UK has said it is committed to, and the UK is in grave danger of abdicating its responsibilities if it fails to act on expanding illegal Israeli settlements and the egregious E1 project. 

The E1 settlement project, which tenders are now live for, and the enlargement of Ma’ale Adumim will permanently sever the West Bank into two disconnected enclaves, entrenching annexation and foreclosing any viable path to a just political solution to Palestinian sovereignty and regional peace.  

These projects would deliberately reshape the territory’s geography and demographics in clear violation of international law, deepening instability and undermining Palestinians’ right to self-determination. 

While the UK government’s previous condemnation of E1 is encouraging, condemnations without consequences are futile and will do nothing to stop irreversible changes on the ground. The advancement of E1 construction requires an urgent action from the UK government who must align itself with its own position of Israeli settlements being in ‘flagrant violation’ to international law and to ensure full compliance with the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 Advisory Opinion. 

Órlaith Roe, ICJP’s Public Affairs and Communications Officer, said: 

“There is absolutely no time to waste in stopping Israel’s E1 settlement plan. Tenders are live, construction is planned, and the change on the ground will be irreversible.  

The UK must step up and align itself with its own longstanding position – that Israeli settlements in the oPt are illegal and a flagrant violation of international law. This is a deliberate move by Israel that will permanently severe the West Bank in two and intentionally undermine Palestinian sovereignty.” 

ENDS 

Notes for Editors: 

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.   

For more information, to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact the ICJP news desk at [email protected]. 

Image: Justin McIntosh via Wikimedia Commons