UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the advancement of the E1 plan in Ma'ale Adumim, which includes approximately 3,400 new housing units and the establishment of a new settlement in Asahel. "Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, constitute a violation of international law and directly contradict UN resolutions," he said. "The advancement of this project is an existential threat to the two-state solution - it will disconnect the northern West Bank from the southern part and lead to severe consequences for the territorial contiguity of the occupied Palestinian territory. I once again call on the Israeli government to immediately halt all settlement activities."