The Israeli judiciary has rejected a legal challenge against the "E1" settlement project, which aims to divide the occupied West Bank into two parts. The Jerusalem court ruled that the project, which involves the construction of thousands of housing units on land considered occupied, will not cause irreversible changes in the short term. According to the ruling, obtained by AFP, the process of bidding and obtaining permits will take a long time, giving courts the opportunity to review the case thoroughly before construction starts. Authorities have pledged to keep bidders informed of any further legal appeals. Three non-governmental organizations had previously filed a lawsuit to block the tender when it was announced in July. In a joint statement, they argued that the decision was politically motivated, aimed at advancing the government's interests during an election period. They warned that the project would create a new reality on the ground, leading to a situation that would be extremely difficult to reverse. The groups also expressed concerns that the expansion of settlements would accelerate ethnic cleansing in the area, with severe consequences for the thousands of Palestinians living there. In mid-August, several Western countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Canada, urged Israel to halt the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and to immediately withdraw the tenders. The E1 project is designed to create a continuous line of Jewish settlements stretching from the center of the West Bank to Jerusalem, effectively dividing the territory into northern and southern sections. Critics argue that this division could permanently prevent the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state. Currently, about three million Palestinians live in the West Bank, along with nearly 500,000 Israelis residing in settlements. These settlements are considered illegal under international law, which prohibits the establishment of settlements in occupied territories. The ongoing expansion of such settlements continues to be a major point of contention in international relations and peace negotiations in the region.