Plan E1 signed: That state will not exist

"We will fulfill our promise - there will be no Palestinian state. This place belongs to us," Netanyahu said during the signing ceremony in the neighborhood of Ma'ale Adumim, near Jerusalem.

He added that the number of inhabitants of that city will be doubled.

"We will protect our heritage, our country and our security," Netanyahu said at an event broadcast live from his office.

Plan E1 envisages the construction of thousands of new housing units that would connect Ma'ale Adumim with Jerusalem, but also effectively cut off the West Bank, which would prevent the territorially connected Palestinian area and access to East Jerusalem, a part of the city that Palestinians see as the future capital of their state, reports the Times of Israel.

The E1 project, which has been criticized by the international community for years, received final planning approval last month.

Although yesterday's ceremony had a largely symbolic character, it allows the authorities to continue construction.