A group of 26 Democrats is calling on US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to act to prevent the advancement of plans for Israeli construction in the E-1 corridor between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim.
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The letter, led by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), who recently visited Israel on a J Street-sponsored trip, expressed "immense concern" over Israeli plans to approve 3,400 housing units in the E-1 region.
"The recent efforts by the Israeli government to advance the approval to build 3,400 housing units in the highly sensitive area known as E-1 pose an irreconcilable challenge to a lasting peace solution between Israel and the Palestinians," the letter read.
"To ensure the prospects of peace, we urge the State Department to exert diplomatic pressure to prevent settlement construction in E-1," it added.
The E-1 region has long been considered for construction, especially as the population of Jerusalem continues to grow, and housing becomes increasingly scarce and expensive in the city. However, construction in the area has been controversial with critics saying the plan to create a physical link between Ma'ale Adumim and Jerusalem would bisect the territories of Judea and Samaria and jeopardize a future Palestinian state.
During the Trump administration, America changed its policy regarding settlements, no longer viewing them as inherently in violation of international law. However, the Biden administration has taken a harsher stance and has condemned Israeli construction plans as "damaging" the prospects for a two-state solution.
Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
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