Canada and European Allies Issue Joint Condemnation of West Bank E1 Settlement Expansion

OTTAWA, ON — The Government of Canada, in coordination with the governments of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway, issued a joint multilateral diplomatic declaration Thursday evening condemning Israeli government approval of major residential expansion plans in the E1 corridor of the West Bank.

Multilateral Diplomatic Condemnation and International Law

The joint communiqué, released simultaneously in Ottawa, London, Paris, and Berlin, asserts that advancing permanent construction across the strategic E1 tract between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim threatens to physically sever the West Bank into isolated northern and southern sectors, effectively precluding the geographic contiguity required for a viable, independent Palestinian state under a two-state solution.

The allied coalition reiterated that unilateral settlement expansions contravene international humanitarian law under the Fourth Geneva Convention and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334.

Diplomatic Demands and De-escalation Framework

The joint statement calls on Israeli authorities to immediately halt zoning approvals and tender issuances for the E1 corridor, emphasizing that long-term Middle East security and normalization depend on de-escalation and respect for international legal norms.

Canadian civil society groups and international legal scholars welcomed the coordinated multilateral stance, highlighting that unified allied diplomacy is essential to preserve peace prospects.

United Nations Security Council Briefing

The permanent representatives of the participating allied nations will deliver a coordinated briefing on the E1 settlement objections at the UN Security Council in New York on August 26, 2026.