France, Britain, Germany, and Italy, along with other European leaders, condemned Israel's decision on Thursday to open bidding for a planned settlement project in the occupied West Bank. The plan, which was approved last year, involves the construction of more than 1,200 homes.
Known as the E1 development, the project is considered illegal under international law. The expansion would further separate the West Bank from predominantly Palestinian east Jerusalem, which is occupied and annexed by Israel.
European leaders decried the latest plan as unacceptable and called for the plans to be withdrawn and for settlement expansion to end. They also urged companies to refrain from bidding on the construction tenders.