Israel has opened tenders for the construction of over 1,200 settlement homes in a strategically crucial area of the occupied West Bank, as the government attempts to eliminate any possibility of a Palestinian state. Plans to build in the so-called E1 area, east of Jerusalem, have long been opposed globally. The development would effectively split the West Bank and isolate East Jerusalem.
The deadline for bids is just days before Israel’s general election in October, making it considerably more difficult for any future administration to cancel any issued tenders. However, expansion has increased dramatically since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office in late 2022 as the leader of a right-wing, pro-settler government, as well as the start of the Gaza war, which was initiated by Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.
Under international criticism, Israel delayed plans to construct in E1 for decades. Many of Israeli friends and Palestinians felt that this would be a severe setback to hopes for a two-state solution, effectively dividing the West Bank. However, the present Israeli government approved E1 construction a year ago, specifically to “erase” the concept of a Palestinian state.
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