Israel Adds Tender for 2,167 Housing Units to Controversial E1 Settlement Plan

Israel has expanded its controversial E1 settlement plan by adding a tender for 2,167 housing units, bringing the total planned units to 3,401 following an earlier August tender. The bidding is scheduled to open on October 25, 2026, just two days before the Israeli Knesset elections. The E1 project, which connects Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim, is heavily criticized by Palestinians and Western nations for bisecting the West Bank and undermining the viability of a future contiguous Palestinian state. The announcement comes amid rising tensions, including settler violence in the West Bank and IDF security operations.

// Background

The E1 settlement project has been frozen for many years due to intense international pressure, particularly from past US administrations. It is highly controversial because it physically blocks the contiguity between key Palestinian population centers—Bethlehem, East Jerusalem, and Ramallah—which are considered essential for a viable, independent Palestinian state. Under the current right-wing coalition government, Israel has approved an unprecedented number of settlement units and illegal outposts.

// Key Developments

• Israel added a tender for 2,167 housing units to the E1 settlement plan, bringing the total to 3,401 units.
• The bidding process is scheduled to open on October 25, 2026, two days before the Israeli parliamentary elections.
• The E1 expansion connects Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim, bisecting the West Bank and cutting off East Jerusalem.
• Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the tenders as a violation of international law.
• The UK, France, and Canada recently imposed sanctions and export bans targeting West Bank settlements in response to the project.