Palestinian Official Calls Israel’s E1 Settlement Plans ‘A Dangerous Escalation’

A senior Palestinian official has condemned Israel’s plans to advance settlement construction in the E1 area near Jerusalem, describing the move as “a dangerous escalation,” according to Anadolu Agency.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, said that Israeli measures in the area “do not grant Israel any right or legitimacy over Palestinian land,” Anadolu Agency reported.

The E1 zone, located east of Jerusalem, has long been a focal point of international concern because development there is seen by critics as further isolating Palestinian communities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem from one another, according to previous reporting on the area.

Abu Rudeineh’s remarks, cited by Anadolu Agency, reflect longstanding Palestinian opposition to Israeli settlement activity in territory Palestinians seek for a future state.

The report did not include additional details on the specific scope or timeline of the settlement plans, nor did it include an Israeli government response to the Palestinian statement.