The Israeli interest in realizing the E-1 plan, as defined by Israel Defense Forces chiefs of staff throughout the years, is not shared by the international community in general, and the European Union in particular. Israel’s interest is to see continuity between the west of the country — Jerusalem — and the east, from Ma’ale Adumim to the Dead Sea, as part of a Jewish security belt around the capital.

Israel fears the Palestinians could cut Ma’ale Adumim off from Jerusalem through construction that would surround Jerusalem from the east and see portions of Jerusalem revert to being something of a no man’s land, as they were on the eve of the 1967 Six-Day War. This would prevent the city from developing eastward, and would also threaten the Jerusalem-Jericho road, upon which Palestinian construction has already encroached. This artery is strategic in the first degree, as it allows Israel to move its troops through the Jordan Valley northward in time of war.

In Israel, there was for many years a near absolute consensus on the need to connect Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem through the E-1 corridor, and in the future, to apply Israeli sovereignty to this area. Eight prime ministers, including Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert, committed to the E-1 construction, but outside of the construction of a district police station, no other progress was made due to intense diplomatic pressure and US and EU opposition.

“After years of a construction freeze, [and] when we had finally started to move along the path of planning approval procedures, this intervention is unacceptable,” said Ma’ale Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel. “We thought Gantz was the successor to Rabin, who initiated the plan and declared the E-1 [area] state land. Unfortunately, we have been proven wrong. This was done without consulting with us. The time has come to realize through construction our control of these lands before others take them over.”

“The claim that E-1 cuts off Palestinian continuity is not true,” said Kashriel. “Anyone familiar with the area knows it. It’s just an excuse to prevent us from developing and growing.”

In Ma’ale Adumim itself, in the area bordering the planned construction, construction is now underway on 800 new housing units following a lengthy freeze. Another 3,300 housing units, to be built between the industrial area and the Nofei Hasela neighborhood that borders the E-1 corridor, are now in the planning phase. Some 40,000 people currently live in Ma’ale Adumim.

Gantz’s office declined to comment on the report.

The Prime Minister’s Office did not issue a statement in time for publication.