Israeli E1 Settlement Plan

In case you are not aware, in April I visited the West Bank and Israel, where I witnessed first-hand the reality of life under occupation. Throughout the visit, I met with Israeli “settlers”, Palestinian residents, medics, human rights campaigners, and political figures. In Masafer Yatta, I was confronted by armed Israeli “settlers” – supported by armed Israeli police and IDF – while observing the disruption of Bedouin farmers’ access to their land.

I saw the stark apartheid segregation between communities; one enjoying rights and freedoms, the other enduring daily hardship and disenfranchisement. In Tulkarm, I met families recently evicted from their homes, and in East Jerusalem, I witnessed “settler” groups entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under police protection. These experiences deepened my resolve to press for justice and peace.

As you rightly highlight, the E1 plan would forcibly displace thousands of Palestinians, sever East Jerusalem from the West Bank, and destroy the territorial continuity essential for a future Palestinian state. The International Court of Justice’s July 2024 Advisory Opinion is unequivocal: Israel’s occupation is illegal and must end “as rapidly as possible.” The UK has a legal and moral duty not to aid or assist in maintaining this situation.

I have already urged the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to:

• Demand an immediate halt to the E1 settlement plan.
• Clarify the UK’s obligations under the ICJ ruling, including preventing any support for illegal occupation.
• Outline meaningful consequences if Israel proceeds in defiance of international law.
• Support diplomatic, legal, and humanitarian measures to protect Palestinians and ensure accountability.
• Work with international partners to restart a credible peace process that guarantees the rights and self-determination of all peoples in the region.

This week I again urged the Foreign Secretary to act. I attach an excerpt from Hansard. The full transcript of the statement and debate can be found here.

Peace cannot be achieved through annexation or apartheid. It must be built on equality, justice, and mutual recognition. I have and will continue to support the Two-State Solution: full democratic rights for all, followed by a truth and reconciliation process.