Israel Advances West Bank Settlement Expansion with New Tenders and E1 Project Revisions

Israeli authorities issued tenders for 91 new settlement units in the northern West Bank and updated the bidding schedule for the controversial E1 project near Jerusalem in early November 2026. According to the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, the new construction is slated for the Oranit settlement in the Qalqilya governorate. These administrative moves signal a continued push for settlement expansion despite widespread international opposition and warnings regarding the viability of a future Palestinian state.

The 91 units in Oranit are split across two specific tenders. Tender No. 224/2026, published on November 5, involves four plots designated for 86 multi-story housing units. Bidding for this project is scheduled to open on November 15 and conclude on December 21. A second tender, No. 228/2026, was published on November 3 and covers three plots for five low-rise units. Bidding for the latter is set to open on November 16 and close on December 29. The commission noted that while these tenders have been published, construction has not yet commenced, and contracts have not been awarded to developers.

Simultaneously, Israel revised the timeline for the E1 settlement project, which is situated east of Jerusalem near the Ma'ale Adumim settlement. Tender No. 460/2025, covering 2,167 units, saw its bidding opening and document publication date postponed from October 25 to December 1. The final submission deadline was extended from December 21 to December 28. The commission emphasized that these changes are strictly related to the administrative schedule and do not represent a cancellation or reduction of the planned 3,401 total units across the E1 project's two primary tenders.

Reactions to these developments highlight deep regional tensions. Palestinian officials argue these measures facilitate the formal annexation of the West Bank. Meanwhile, various Arab, Muslim, and Western nations have previously rejected the E1 project, asserting that its completion would effectively bisect the West Bank and undermine the two-state solution. This administrative activity occurs against a backdrop of increased military operations and settler violence in the territory since October 2023, which Palestinians warn is paving the way for the permanent displacement of local populations.

The E1 (East 1) project is a long-standing and highly controversial Israeli plan to build thousands of settlement units in an area between East Jerusalem and the Ma'ale Adumim settlement. For decades, international observers and Palestinian leaders have warned that developing this corridor would sever the connection between the northern and southern West Bank. This geographic split would effectively prevent the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state, which is the cornerstone of the internationally backed two-state solution.

Since October 2023, the West Bank has seen a significant escalation in settlement activity, military raids, and settler-led violence. Israeli authorities have accelerated administrative processes for new housing while simultaneously increasing home demolitions and property destruction in Palestinian communities. These actions are viewed by international legal bodies, including the United Nations and the International Court of Justice, as violations of international law, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its civilian population into occupied territory. The current tenders in Oranit and the E1 project represent the latest phase in this broader trend of territorial expansion and administrative consolidation in the occupied territories.