Israel Opens Bids for Controversial West Bank E1 Settlement Project

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:14:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Israel has issued tenders for 1,200 new homes in the East Jerusalem corridor, a move that could split the West Bank and undermine a two‑state solution.

Israel has released tender documents for approximately 1,200 homes in the E1 area between East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim, a project condemned internationally as illegal and a threat to Palestinian statehood. The deadline is set ahead of the October general election, making reversal difficult. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has called the bids "destructive" and urged immediate withdrawal. The construction would bisect the West Bank, isolating East Jerusalem and further entrenching settlement expansion. Palestinian and international leaders have warned the project could render a contiguous Palestinian state impossible.

Israel Opens Bids for Controversial West Bank E1 Settlement Project

Israel has issued tender documents for about 1,200 homes in the E1 corridor between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Maale Adumim. The project is widely seen as an attempt to erase the possibility of a Palestinian state, and is illegal under international law.

The development would effectively split the West Bank, isolating East Jerusalem and cutting off the northern region from south‑side settlements. Israel has already built roughly 160 settlements since 1967, housing about 700,000 Jews, while 3.3 million Palestinians live in the area.

In late 2022, Netanyahu’s right‑wing coalition lifted earlier restrictions and signalled a push to expand settlements. The Housing Ministry laid out a tender for 1,234 of 3,401 approved units on 19 August, with the bid deadline set for 19 October—just days before the scheduled general election on 27 October.

The UK has reacted strongly. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called the tender an "unacceptable and destructive act" and demanded a reversal. His statement, issued to Israel’s Chargé d'Affaires, urged immediate cancellation and warned that future governments would face sanctions over settlement expansion.

Palestinian activists and international organizations have cautioned that even partial implementation would sever the northern West Bank from the south, demolishing the geographic continuity needed for a viable two‑state solution. The UN Secretary‑General expressed deep alarm, urging Israel to stop further steps toward settlement growth.

Wide view of a highway near the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, East Jerusalem

The fact that the tender deadline falls before the October elections means that any new government may find it difficult to cancel the contracts, worsening an already fragile peace process. It raises questions about the long‑term viability of a Palestinian state and could further entrench a cycle of construction and displacement.