This plan has faced significant criticism as a violation of international law that endangers a two-state solution, with Smotrich himself declaring last week that it would “bury” the notion of a Palestinian state.

Development on the sensitive portion of land has been under consideration by Israel for more than two decades. Source: AP / Ohad Zwigenberg

‘Unacceptable and a violation of international law’

“We condemn this decision and call for its immediate reversal in the strongest terms,” the statement reads.

The ministers emphasized that the Israeli government still has the chance to halt the plan’s progress and urged it to “urgently retract” the decision.

“The Israeli government must stop settlement construction in compliance with UNSC Resolution 2334 and lift their financial restrictions on the Palestinian Authority.”

What is the E1 settlement plan?

The E1 development has been contemplated for over twenty years but was previously halted due to pressure from the United States under past administrations.

Philippe Lazzarini, who leads the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, expressed that the project would “completely cut off the northern and central West Bank from the southern West Bank — resulting in a lack of territorial contiguity”.

‘Immediate independent foreign media access’

The UK, New Zealand, France, Italy and Ukraine are among the other countries to have signed the joint statement.