France publicly called on Israel to abandon the so-called E1 settlement plan, which would authorise the construction of more than 3,000 housing units east of Jerusalem. Paris said the project constitutes a “serious violation of international law,” warning that extending the settlement would sever the northern and southern parts of the West Bank and fatally undermine prospects for a two-state solution. The French statement follows a similar assessment by the UN Human Rights Office, which labelled the plan illegal and said it could force Palestinian residents from their land, potentially amounting to a war crime. The United States, European Union and United Kingdom have also criticised the move, while Brazil issued its own condemnation on Saturday. The project is championed by Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who has urged the government to accelerate construction.