The E1 plan has drawn criticism over concerns that construction could disrupt Palestinian territorial continuity and make statehood more difficult. Israeli minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich attends a press conference announcing his plans to approve more than 3,000 housing units in the E1 settlement project between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim, August 14, 2025. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) The government plan to populate the contentious E1 area, located between Ma’aleh Adumim and...