Ottawa, Canada — Canadian civil society organizations, joined by international co‑endorsers, are calling on Prime Minister Carney and Foreign Minister Anand to take immediate action to halt Israel’s E1 settlement project in the Occupied West Bank. With the ongoing illegal U.S.‑Israel military campaign against Iran increasing instability across the Middle East, the E1 expansion risks further fuelling tensions while consolidating Israel’s unlawful and discriminatory control over Palestinian territory.
Sometimes referred to as Israel’s “doomsday” settlement, advocates warn that the E1 expansion would permanently sever the West Bank into two disconnected enclaves, entrenching annexation and foreclosing any viable path to a just political resolution. The project would deliberately reshape the territory’s geography and demographics in clear violation of international law, undermining Palestinians’ right to self‑determination. Israel’s Finance Minister has explicitly said that the project is intended to “bury the idea of a Palestinian state.”
Canada has condemned the E1 plan, but civil society leaders say condemnations without consequences will not stop it.
The Israel Land Authority announced the E1 bidding tender in December 2025 and plans to award contracts on July 6, 2026. Once these tenders are issued and construction advances, reversal will be nearly impossible.
Canadian Global Sanctions Coalition endorsers are urging Canadian government to:
- Publicly warn that any person or entity involved in E1 expansion will face targeted economic sanctions.
- Signal that participation in the project risks loss of access to Canadian markets and financial systems.
- Enforce immediate designations should contracts move forward.
QUOTES
“The E1 settlement project is designed to permanently entrench Israel’s apartheid rule over the occupied West Bank, and foreclose any possibility for Palestinian self-determination,” said Michael Bueckert, Vice President of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME). “Canada cannot claim to oppose Israeli settlement expansion while refusing to adopt any of the practical tools that could halt Israel’s colonial ambitions. There have to be real economic consequences for individuals and businesses seeking to profit from these schemes.”
“Recent polling shows that a majority of Canadian Jews do not support Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territory,” noted Corey Balsam of Independent Jewish Voices. “If Canada’s recognition of Palestinian statehood is to have any meaning, the Carney government must move beyond statements of concern and impose real consequences on Israel’s settlement project and the expansionist policies driving it.”
“E1 is not routine settlement growth. It is a deliberate project to make Palestinian statehood impossible,” said Karen Rodman of Just Peace Advocates. “Canada cannot claim to defend a rules‑based order while its markets and financial systems facilitate this destruction.”
POLICY CONTEXT
Under international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, an occupying power cannot transfer its civilian population into occupied territory or permanently alter its character absent absolute necessity. Israeli settlements, including the E1 project and settlement expansion of Ma’ale Adumim, violate these standards and threaten prospects for peace.
Canada and allied governments, including the United Kingdom, Australia and the European Union, have previously imposed targeted sanctions in response to settler violence and property destruction in the West Bank. Civil society leaders stress that decisive economic measures are needed now to deter larger annexation efforts.
With July 6 approaching and Middle East tensions escalating, advocates warn that the window for preventive action is closing fast.