NEW YORK: Pakistan has warned the United Nations Security Council that Israel’s E1 settlement expansion plan poses a serious threat to the geographical continuity of a future Palestinian state and could further undermine efforts to achieve a two-state solution.
In this regard, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
He said that serious violations of international law continue to occur, while members of the Security Council have voiced growing concern over the worsening humanitarian and security situation and have called for greater accountability.
In this sense, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar stated that Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank continues at an alarming pace. He noted that violence by Israeli settlers has reached unprecedented levels, further aggravating tensions in the region.
In such a way, as per the Pakistani envoy, Israel’s E1 settlement project represents a significant threat to the territorial continuity of a future Palestinian state.
The ambassador said that the approval of 4,750 housing units in the Occupied Palestinian Territories reflects a deeply concerning trend. He emphasized that continued settlement activity, particularly under the E1 plan, presents a major obstacle to the internationally supported two-state solution and risks further destabilizing prospects for lasting peace.
The Pakistani representative also expressed concern over the withholding of financial revenues intended for the Palestinian Authority.
He said that restricting these funds weakens Palestinian institutions and hampers governance, making it increasingly difficult for the Palestinian Authority to provide essential public services and maintain administrative stability.
The E1 settlement plan has remained a subject of international concern due to its potential impact on the territorial link between the northern and southern parts of the occupied West Bank.
Last year, Israel approved further steps related to the project, which includes the construction of 3,401 housing units for Israeli settlers in the area between East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
