Overview
- The leaders of the United Kingdom, Italy, France and Germany issued a coordinated statement on Friday, May 22, 2026, declaring Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal and condemning a rise in settler violence.
- The statement singled out the E1 area between Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim, saying construction there would divide the West Bank and constitute a serious breach of international law.
- The four countries warned companies not to bid on E1 or other settlement construction because of legal exposure and reputational risk and urged businesses to avoid involvement in projects that could violate international law.
- The statement called on Israel to stop settlement expansion, hold settlers accountable for violence, investigate allegations involving Israeli forces, respect the Hashemite custodianship of Jerusalem’s holy sites, and lift financial restrictions on the Palestinian Authority.
- Analysts say E1 development, which Israeli officials have reported could include roughly 3,000–3,400 housing units, would sever Palestinian territorial contiguity, heighten legal and diplomatic pressure on Israel, and further erode prospects for a negotiated two‑state outcome.