EU condemns Israeli West Bank settlement plans as illegal under international law

The European Union has condemned Israel's plans to advance construction of the strategic E1 settlement in the West Bank, which would split the territory and separate it from Jerusalem, making a Palestinian state practically impossible. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated the settlements are illegal under international law. Kallas demanded Israel halt expansion plans and cancel the tender for over 1,200 housing units in E1, saying the project fundamentally harms prospects for a two-state solution. She reaffirmed the EU's commitment to peace based on UN Security Council resolutions, with Israel and Palestine coexisting within secure borders. The criticism follows statements from over a dozen European countries, including Spain, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. UN figures show at least 57 Palestinians killed in the West Bank in the first half of 2026, while Israeli NGO Peace Now reports record settlement approvals.