Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar, told the Security Council on that Israel’s controversial “E1 plan” represents a serious threat to the geographic contiguity of a future Palestinian state.
Speaking during a council session on the Middle East, Iftikhar cited the UN Secretary-General’s latest report, which notes the approval or advancement of 4,750 housing units in the occupied Palestinian territories. He called the trend “alarming” and said the E1 project in particular poses a major challenge to the two-state solution.
The E1 settlement plan involves construction in the area east of Jerusalem that would link settlements and effectively cut the West Bank in two. Iftikhar said this undermines any viable, contiguous Palestinian state.
He flagged the 4,750 new housing units reported by the UN as part of a broader pattern of settlement activity in occupied areas, which Pakistan views as a violation of international law.
The E1 plan has long been opposed by the UN, EU, and Arab states because building there would make it geographically difficult to establish a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem and connect the northern and southern West Bank.
Pakistan reiterated its support for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
Read also:Asim Iftikhar warns: Afghanistan must act against TTP or Pakistan will take action
