KUALA LUMPUR – Israel’s push to build in the contentious E1 settlement area east of Jerusalem will slice the West Bank in two and permanently undermine any chance of a contiguous Palestinian state, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim warned today.
In a scathing Facebook post, Anwar condemned the Israeli regime’s decision to issue construction tenders for the illegal project, pointing out that the specific tract of land has long been vital to the survival and viability of a sovereign Palestine.
He stressed that the decision, coming amid unprecedented settler violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, proves the Israeli regime has abandoned even the pretence of seeking peace or respecting the will of the international community.
Settlements across the occupied West Bank remain strictly illegal under international law, a reality the Prime Minister noted Israel continues to ignore with complete impunity.
Reaffirming Malaysia’s unwavering stance on Palestinian self-determination, Anwar raised the stakes by signaling that Kuala Lumpur will strictly monitor international companies participating in the tenders and will act accordingly against those involved.
The Prime Minister’s warning aligns with global concern, following UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ alarm over the outposts.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric cautioned that the E1 project effectively severs the connection between the northern and southern West Bank, striking an existential blow to any viable two-state solution. – August 21, 2026