Former European leaders and officials are calling for sanctions and trade restrictions to prevent Israel’s E1 settlement project. They want decisions at the October 12 meeting of European Union foreign ministers, saying contracts could be awarded within weeks.

A Greek news outlet reported that the appeal appeared in the French newspaper Libération on October 5. It put the number of signatories at about 500, while La Vanguardia, which also published the appeal, reported more than 500.

Signatories include former French foreign minister Dominique de Villepin and former French prime minister Alain Juppé. Former prime ministers Massimo D’Alema of Italy, Yves Leterme of Belgium and Stefan Löfven of Sweden also signed.

Sanctions and trade restrictions sought

The signatories asked the European Commission to immediately propose sanctions against financial institutions and other service providers involved in E1. Their request also covers other settlements they describe as illegal.

They called for an end to all EU trade with those settlements. Separately, they urged the EU to suspend the trade provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

The appeal said the EU had taken no measures to prevent E1 from proceeding. It also accused the bloc of failing to fulfil its obligations to act against violations of international law.

Housing plan raises concerns over Palestinian statehood

The E1 plan envisages more than 1,200 homes near Jerusalem, according to the Greek report. It said Israel’s government approved the project in 2025 after it had remained frozen for decades.

The signatories said the project would divide the West Bank in two. They argued that this would make a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict impossible.

The Greek report said an Israeli court ordered a one-month postponement of the opening of bids on September 27. The delay was intended to avoid affecting parliamentary elections scheduled for late October.

The signatories said the Israeli government was expected to award first-phase contracts within weeks. The eventual timing remains unclear following the postponement.

Appeal targets October 12 EU meeting

The signatories praised some EU countries for taking national measures against settlements. But they said Germany and Italy had systematically blocked action at EU level.

They urged foreign ministers to agree on the requested measures at their October 12 meeting. Whether the Commission or member states will adopt them remains unknown.