UN condemns Israel's new settlement plan as illegal and a war crime.

Israel's new settlement plan has been deemed illegal under international law by the UN human rights office. The plan, approved by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, would split East Jerusalem from the West Bank, putting nearby Palestinians at risk of forced eviction, which is considered a war crime.

The United Nations human rights office has deemed Israel's new settlement plan illegal under international law, sparking international condemnation. The plan, approved by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, aims to build a new settlement near East Jerusalem, which the U.N. says would put nearby Palestinians at risk of forced eviction, a war crime [1].

The settlement project, known as the E1 scheme, would connect the Maale Adumin settlement in the West Bank with Jerusalem. This move has been criticized for potentially splitting the West Bank and cutting off East Jerusalem, which Palestinians want as their future capital. The plan has drawn international ire, with many world powers expressing concern that it erodes the viability of a two-state solution [2].

Smotrich, a far-right politician, has stated that the move would "bury" the idea of a Palestinian state. The Israeli government has not yet officially backed the plan, and there is no immediate statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or the broader government. However, Smotrich's office has announced that the minister will give a press conference later to discuss the project [3].

The U.N. rights office spokesperson has described the plan as a "war crime for an occupying power to transfer its own civilian population into the territory it occupies." The international community views Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal, and the settlement expansion has been a contentious issue in the peace process [2].

Critics argue that the E1 project would make a contiguous Palestinian state impossible, and some countries have imposed sanctions on Smotrich and another far-right minister who advocates for settlement expansion. Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand imposed sanctions in June, accusing the ministers of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank [3].

The E1 project, if approved, would involve the construction of 3,300 homes in Maale Adumin. Peace Now, an Israeli group that tracks settlement activity, has warned that the plan is "deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution" [3].

In conclusion, Israel's new settlement plan has faced significant international backlash, with the U.N. and many world powers condemning the move as illegal and a threat to the peace process. The plan's approval by Smotrich has raised concerns about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations and the viability of a two-state solution.

References:
[1] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_S8N3SN02D:0-un-human-rights-office-says-israeli-plan-for-settlement-near-east-jerusalem-breaks-international-law/
[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-rights-office-says-israeli-settlement-plan-breaks-international-law-2025-08-15/
[3] https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/570012/israel-s-bezalel-smotrich-approves-settlement-splitting-east-jerusalem-from-west-bank