Kuala lumpur: Construction in the E1 settlement area east of Jerusalem would divide the West Bank and gravely undermine the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian homeland, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today. In a Facebook post today, he strongly condemned the Israeli regime's decision to issue construction tenders for the E1 settlement project.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar emphasized that the tract of land east of Jerusalem has been critical to the viability of a Palestinian state. He noted that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law, but Israel continues to act without regard for this.

Anwar highlighted that the decision comes amid settler violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and the ongoing situation in Gaza, indicating that the Israeli regime has abandoned efforts to pursue peace or respect international consensus.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed Malaysia's support for the Palestinian people and their rights to a sovereign, viable, contiguous, and independent state. He also mentioned that Malaysia would monitor any international company involved in the tenders and respond accordingly.

Bernama-Xinhua reported yesterday that United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed alarm over reports of new Israeli settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank. Guterres urged Israel to cease further action, noting that the E1 settlement would sever the connection between the northern and southern West Bank, impact the territorial integrity of the Palestinian territory, and threaten the two-state solution.