Pakistan warns UN Israel’s E1 settlement plan threatens viability of Palestinian state

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 and viability of a future Palestinian state, urging the international community to uphold international law and ensure accountability for violations in the occupied Palestinian territories. Speaking during a UN Security Council session, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, saying that serious violations of international law continue unabated. He said Security Council members had voiced growing concern over the situation and stressed the need for accountability. He noted that Israel’s settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank continues at an accelerated pace, while violence by Israeli settlers has reached unprecedented levels. The Pakistani envoy said Israel’s E1 settlement plan represents a major threat to the geographical continuity of a future Palestinian state and undermines prospects for a negotiated two-state solution. Referring to the UN Secretary-General’s report, Asim Iftikhar said the approval of 4,750 new housing units in the occupied Palestinian territories reflected a deeply worrying trend. He added that the E1 project poses a significant challenge to efforts aimed at achieving a viable two-state solution. He also criticized the withholding of financial revenues intended for the Palestinian Authority, saying the move weakens Palestinian institutions and hampers effective governance. The E1 settlement plan, approved by Israel last year, envisages the construction of 3,401 housing units for Israeli settlers in the area between the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The plan has drawn widespread international criticism over concerns that it could further fragment Palestinian territory and complicate prospects for a