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Photo:
Laying the foundation stone for Area E-1, also known as Mevaseret Adumim, in 2009. Credit: Emil Salman Published by Haaretz
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Much-touted plan for building in Area E1 of the West Bank - also known as Mevaseret Adumim - has been criticized by local Palestinian residents and the international community

by Yaniv Kubovich, Jonathan Lis, Ben Samuels, and Amir Tibon for Haaretz
Jun 9, 2023

Israel is shelving controversial plans for a new housing project in Area E-1 of the occupied West Bank. The plan drew international criticism since construction in this area would sever the territorial link between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, making it almost impossible to establish a contiguous Palestinian state in the future.

According to an informed source, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has asked the Ma’aleh Adumim council to withdraw the petition it submitted, calling for the Civil Administration’s planning committee to convene and discuss the many objections to the plan.

The committee was due to convene next week and the withdrawal of Ma’aleh Adumim’s petition will allow the government to postpone the potentially explosive meeting.

The defense establishment has long opposed implementation of this plan, due to the objections of the U.S. and the European Union. This position is usually accepted by political echelons in Israel. …

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