The E1 Report

01/12/2012

Ostensibly, the E1 controversy pertains to the city of Ma’aleh Adumim to the east of Jerusalem. But E1 is, in fact, not part of Ma’aleh Adumim. The proposed construction in E1 differs from Ma’aleh Adumim both topographically and in terms of its political ramifications. It constitutes a new autonomous 4,000 unit-strong (roughly 20,000 people) settlement that will separate East Jerusalem from the West Bank and prevent any future territorial continuity between the two in any meaningful way. Alongside a plan for a large commercial area with hotels, the intent of this construction is to make facts on the ground. Its “successful” implementation has the potential to thwart any just and stable political solution.