Israel’s plan to expand settlement construction in the occupied West Bank drew criticism from U.S. House member and senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory Meeks. Meeks called on Donald Trump to intervene and stop the plans of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in the E1 area.
Meeks said he was “extremely concerned” by the decision to open tenders for more than 1,200 housing units as part of the E1 settlement plan.

Impact of the settlement plan on a Palestinian state
Arguing that Israeli settlements in the West Bank violate international law, Meeks said construction in the E1 area would further fragment the region. He added that the plan would separate East Jerusalem from Palestinian population centers and seriously weaken the viability of a future Palestinian state.
Meeks said Palestinians have the right to their own viable state, while Israelis also deserve lasting security and a future free from perpetual conflict.
Meeks warned that settlement expansion could make a negotiated two-state solution increasingly impossible. He said the policy could lead to Israel’s further international isolation and weaken support for Israel in the United States.
Call for a clear message from Washington to Netanyahu
Meeks called on Trump to make clear to Netanyahu that Washington would not accept the advancement of the E1 plans.
Meeks said the U.S. administration should demand that the plans be halted immediately and that no further steps be taken toward construction. He called for the E1 plan not to be met with silence.