UK summons Israeli envoy over E1 settlement plan

Britain’s Foreign Office has said it has summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires in protest at the tender process for the E1 settlement project and has urged Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to immediately back away from the plan.

The ministry described the Israeli government’s move to launch the tender for the project as “unacceptable and damaging.” It said London had formally conveyed its opposition to the Israeli diplomatic representative.

In another development, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she would also summon the Israeli ambassador. The move comes after Canberra’s anger over the lack of criminal action in the case of the killing of an Australian aid worker.

Australia’s Foreign Ministry also said it was dissatisfied with the failure to prosecute those involved in the aid worker’s death.

The E1 settlement project is one of Israel’s most controversial plans in the Palestinian territories and has long drawn criticism and reaction from some countries and international bodies.