Final approval of 3400 Jewish homes is ‘historic nail in coffin’ of ‘two-state delusion’

Finance Minister said the plan “erases the two-state delusion and consolidates the Jewish people’s hold on the heart of the Land of Israel.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israel has given final approval for the construction of roughly 3,400 housing units in the long-disputed E1 corridor between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim, ending a decades-long freeze on building in the strategic area.

The decision was announced on Wednesday by the Higher Planning Committee of the Civil Administration, a Defense Ministry body, after being championed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Smotrich, who also holds authority in the Defense Ministry over settlement construction, described the move as “historic.”

He said the plan “erases the two-state delusion and consolidates the Jewish people’s hold on the heart of the Land of Israel,” adding that “every settlement, every neighborhood, every housing unit is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea.”

The project links Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim, creating territorial continuity between the two while making it more difficult for Palestinians to establish a contiguous state in the West Bank. Smotrich cast the decision as a direct response to recent European announcements recognizing a Palestinian state.

Ma’ale Adumim Mayor Guy Yifrach praised the approval, calling it a long-awaited step that would improve security for local residents. Settler leaders likewise hailed the plan as a “historic achievement.”

The Palestinian Authority condemned the decision, warning it divides the West Bank into disconnected “cantons” that amount to “prisons.” International bodies also voiced opposition. The United Nations said the project would “end prospects of a two-state solution,” while the European Union called the move a breach of international law.

If the timetable proceeds without delay, infrastructure work in E1 could begin within months, with home construction expected to follow in about a year. The plan marks one of the most significant shifts in Israeli settlement policy in recent decades, signaling Jerusalem’s intent to advance territorial control even amid strong international opposition.