Leaders of 7 nations condemn Israeli settlement plan in West Bank

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Leaders of 7 nations condemn Israeli settlement plan in West Bank

2026-08-21 14:05 Last Updated At：18:53

Leaders of seven European nations on Thursday condemned the Israeli government's decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project in the West Bank, calling on Israel to immediately retract the plans.

In a joint statement, leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Britain and Canada described the move as "unacceptable," warning that it will sever the West Bank, harm the territorial contiguity of the Palestinian Territories, and undermine the prospects of a two-state solution.

Reaffirming that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law and UN Security Council resolutions, the leaders noted that the decision came at a time of severe instability, marked by unprecedented levels of violence against civilians and heavy restrictions on the Palestinian economy.

The joint statement urged Israel to end its settlement expansion in the West Bank, emphasizing that the plans will move the region further from peace and damage Israel's international standing.

It also warned businesses against participating in the construction tenders, citing potential legal and reputational consequences, including the risk of involving themselves in serious breaches of international law.

"We reiterate our commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. We will continue to act in its interest," the statement said.

Israel on Tuesday advanced plans for the controversial E1 settlement project in the West Bank, publishing a tender for 1,234 housing units. The tender, published online by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, covers part of a wider plan for 3,401 housing units in E1, an area east of Jerusalem.

Super El Nino fuels typhoon activity in Western Pacific: chief forecaster

The current Super El Nino has fueled typhoon activity in the Western Pacific, with the Western North Pacific and South China Sea seeing the forming of 32 typhoons so far this year, the highest annual total since the start of the 21st century, according to a chief forecaster at China's National Climate Center.

The region has averaged 24.3 typhoons a year this century. Only 2004 and 2013 saw more than 30, with 2013's 31 typhoons setting the previous record.

"Under the influence of the developing Super El Nino, the subtropical high pressure has remained farther north since this summer, averaging about two degrees of latitude farther north from August to October. A northward shift in the subtropical high pressure is favorable for typhoon formation. A total of 23 typhoons formed from July to October this year. The numbers of storms formed and making landfalls were significantly above average, and their overall intensity was stronger than usual," said Zhao Junhu, chief forecaster at the National Climate Center.

The high number of typhoons comes amid a broader climate shift. The National Climate Center's monitoring showed that a Super El Nino event emerged in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific in September and had become the strongest on record by October.

"Next summer, the Super El Nino is expected to make the subtropical high pressure over the Western North Pacific stronger and make it shift westward and southward. This is likely to result in fewer typhoons forming, though their intensity is expected to remain strong, with tracks mainly heading west. The pattern of typhoons next autumn will also depend on how El Nino evolves from summer into autumn next year," Zhao said.