The Foreign Ministry responded to the condemnation issued by 21 countries, including Britain and France, which criticized the initiation of the construction plan in the E1 area approved by the Civil Administration's settlement subcommittee. The ministry stated that "Israel rejects the foreign ministers' statement regarding the approval of a construction plan near Jerusalem, its eternal capital, and rejects the attempt to impose foreign dictates on it." It further stated that "regardless of the absurdity of the claim regarding the future implications of the decision - Israel rejects the external attempt to impose a jihadist terror state in the heart of Israel."