E1 Construction Would Divide West Bank - Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Construction in the E1 settlement area east of Jerusalem would divide the West Bank and gravely undermine the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian homeland, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.

In a Facebook post today, he strongly condemned the Israeli regime's decision to issue construction tenders for the E1 settlement project.

"This tract of land east of Jerusalem has long been critical to the viability of a Palestinian state," said the Prime Minister.

He said Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law, but Israel continues to act with impunity.

"Coming amid unprecedented settler violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, this decision shows that the Israeli regime has abandoned even the pretence of seeking peace or respecting the will of the international community," he said.

Anwar reaffirmed Malaysia's staunch support for the Palestinian people and their inalienable right to a sovereign, viable, contiguous and independent state.

He said Malaysia would take careful note of any international company that chooses to participate in the tenders and would act accordingly. 

Bernama-Xinhua reported yesterday that United Nations (UN) secretary-general Antonio Guterres had expressed alarm over reports of new illegal Israeli settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank and called on Israel to cease further action.

His spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the E1 settlement would effectively sever the connection between the northern and southern West Bank, have severe consequences for the territorial integrity of the occupied Palestinian territory and pose an existential threat to the two-state solution.

-- BERNAMA