Ireland condemns Israeli E1 settlement tender

Republic of Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee condemned Israel's publication of a tender to construct 1,200 housing units in the West Bank as part of the E1 settlement project. She stated that the project poses a fundamental threat to a contiguous Palestinian state and a two-state solution, and that all Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. McEntee urged Israel to immediately rescind the tender and end all illegal settlement activity, and called on the European Union to respond decisively. She also called on Israel to remove restrictions on Palestine — Palestinian Authority finances and release withheld tax clearance revenues. The statement followed a shooting in the West Bank village of Sa'ir, where an Israeli security official reportedly shot dead a 17-year-old Palestinian during a settler march, and an overnight incident in Jenin where Israeli troops reportedly killed a Palestinian man. These incidents highlight escalating settler violence and tensions in the region.