Eight Muslim and Arab nations have collectively condemned Israel’s E1 settlement plan, a project that would involve significant construction in the West Bank. The E1 area is considered strategically vital by many international observers because it sits between Jerusalem and the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim. Critics of the plan argue that building in this corridor would effectively bisect the West Bank, making the creation of a contiguous, viable future Palestinian state nearly impossible.

While the Haaretz report confirms the existence of the condemnation from these eight nations, it provides limited detail regarding which specific countries are involved or the exact diplomatic mechanisms used to issue the statement. The report focuses on the act of condemnation itself as a development in regional diplomatic relations. The E1 project has historically faced opposition not only from Arab and Muslim nations but also from the United States and various European governments, who have frequently pressured Israel to halt development in the area to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution. Israel has historically maintained that the development is necessary for the expansion of Ma'ale Adumim and the security of the Jerusalem periphery. The current report does not include a response from the Israeli government regarding this specific joint statement.