Following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar party and a prominent candidate in Israel’s election, dismissed the feasibility of a two-state solution. At the same time, he criticized the Israeli government’s contentious E1 settlement project in the West Bank. Eisenkot argued that maintaining support for a two-state solution seemed impractical in the aftermath of the attack, yet he deemed the E1 settlement plan a misstep that could harm Israel’s reputation on the global stage.
The E1 project, which proposes the expansion of settlements between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim, is seen as potentially disrupting territorial continuity between key Palestinian population centers. Recently, the Israeli government initiated a tender for over 1,000 housing units in this area, despite facing strong opposition from the international community. The European Union has reportedly considered taking action against Israel should the construction proceed.
In addition to addressing the settlement plan, Eisenkot leveled criticism at Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir due to increasing settler violence in the West Bank. Eisenkot contended that their policies have undermined the Israel Defense Forces’ control in the region, adversely affecting Israel’s international legitimacy and harming its national interests.
Smotrich, however, countered Eisenkot’s critique by asserting that development in the E1 area would serve as a deterrent against the establishment of a Palestinian state in proximity to Jerusalem. The debate over the E1 settlement reflects broader tensions within Israeli politics regarding security, international relations, and the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.