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Government opens bidding to build 1,200 homes in controversial E1 settlement project
Israel's housing ministry issued a tender for 1,234 housing units in the contested E1 area east of Jerusalem, drawing condemnation from European countries and Palestinian authorities. The plan, part of a larger 3,400-unit project, would link settlements between East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim, potentially dividing the West Bank. Bids close just before Israel's elections, raising concerns about the move's political timing.
The Israeli housing ministry issued a tender for construction of 1,234 housing units in the E1 area east of Jerusalem, part of a long-contested settlement project. The tender, covering about 12 square kilometres between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Maale Adumim, is for some of the roughly 3,400 homes that were approved by the Israeli government last August. According to Peace Now, the tender was published on 18 August.
The move drew immediate international condemnation. The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Canada issued a joint statement calling the opening of tenders "unacceptable," citing "grave instability in the West Bank with unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians, and serious restrictions on the Palestinian economy." The countries urged Israel to "retract these plans immediately and end its expansion of settlements in the West Bank," and warned participants of "legal and reputational consequences."
A separate joint statement from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, released earlier, echoed those points. The four said the E1 project "would undermine the prospects for a two-state solution by creating a division across the West Bank and undermining the territorial continuity of the Palestinian Territories," as reported by multiple outlets.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot called the tenders "unacceptable." UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric similarly positioned, saying the Secretary-General was "deeply alarmed by the reports of new illegal Israeli settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank." Egypt's Foreign Ministry expressed "complete rejection of attempts to entrench the status quo through illegal settlement expansion." The Palestinian Authority also condemned the Israeli decision to open tenders for more than 1,200 housing units.
Background: The E1 plan and its opponents
The E1 project has been in planning for decades but was held back under international pressure. Israel has built about 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since its 1967 occupation of the territory, with an estimated 3.3 million Palestinians living alongside them. Settlement expansion has accelerated since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key backer, said on the plan's approval that it would "practically erase the two-state delusion" by splitting up the territory. In an August 2025 comment, he stated, "The Palestinian state is being erased from the table, not with slogans." Opponents argue that the project would cut off the northern West Bank from the south, enclosing East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank, and effectively precluding a viable Palestinian state.
Peace Now, an Israeli settlement watchdog, criticized the government's move, saying the government was "trying to realize the settler right-wing’s vision of annexation" and "tie the hands of the next government" before the elections. They also said the ministry issued the tender without prior notice, despite a July representation by the State Attorney's Office that no E1 tenders were expected in the next two to three months. Peace Now additionally said the tender would isolate "dozens of Bedouin communities, including Khan al-Ahmar, and lead to their expulsion."
International and local responses
The tender coincided with Israel's upcoming election on 27 October; the deadline for bids is 19 October. That timing has led to accusations that the government is trying to replicate long-term commitments before the vote, complicating any future reversal.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar responded to criticism from UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. Sa'ar rejected Miliband's statement and its "patronizing tone," asserting on social media that Jews have the right to live throughout the Land of Israel. Meanwhile, Palestinian Ambassador to UN Riyad Mansour described the move as "extremely dangerous, irresponsible, and threatening."
The West Bank, which Israel captured in 1967 and which includes East Jerusalem—later annexed in a move not widely recognized—remains central to the conflict. International law, as reaffirmed by many Security Council resolutions, holds that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank lack legal recognition.
This article was based on reporting from The Times of Israel, Al Jazeera, BBC, and other listed sources.
How each outlet told it
ABC Australia
Framing: Headline emphasizes European nations condemning the settlement plans. It omits the tender details and Israeli response. — Slightly alarmed — uses phrases like 'condemn', 'unacceptable' from the statement.
Facts Included:
France, Italy, Britain, Germany jointly condemned the settlement project.
They called on Israel to end settlement expansion.
The joint statement cited 'grave instability' and 'unprecedented levels of violence by settlers'.
The planned E1 development is a 12-square-kilometre area on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
The development would kick out Bedouin community and replace it with 3,401 homes and a new road.
In January this year, the Israeli government announced plans to start construction.
Authorities opened bidding for more than 1,200 homes this week.
UK Foreign Minister David Miliband (sic) said he delivered the joint message to Gideon Saar.
Saar responded on X, rejecting 'outright' and calling it 'patronising'.
Smotrich said E1 would 'bury' the idea of a Palestinian state.
Aviv Tatarsky from Ir Amim said the plans would effectively break the West Bank in two.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have settled among millions of Palestinians in land captured in 1967 war.
Nearly all countries and UN bodies consider settlements violate international law; Israel disputes this.
Framing: Headline emphasizes Palestinian condemnation of the Israeli step. It omits the international European response. — Alarmed — uses phrases like 'last nail in the coffin', 'disconnected enclaves'.
Facts Included:
The Palestinian Authority (PA) condemned the Israeli decision to issue a tender for more than 1,200 housing units.
The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission (CRRC) warned it would confine Palestinians to 'disconnected enclaves surrounded by settlements'.
E1 plan aims to build more than 3,400 housing units on about 12 sq km of Palestinian land.
Israeli settlements and outposts are illegal under international law.
The plan would link settlements in East Jerusalem to Maale Adumim, severing East Jerusalem from West Bank and bisecting the West Bank.
Submissions for bids due October 19, before elections October 27.
Netanyahu and government expected to see falling support.
CRRC said tender is a step in a broader geopolitical project.
Al Jazeera correspondent Nida Ibrahim reported from Hizma, saying E1 would be 'last nail in the coffin' of two-state solution.
The Ministry of Construction and Housing approved the bidding for 1,234 units on Tuesday.
Ir Amim said even partial implementation would create irreversible facts on the ground.
Peace Now accused the 'Netanyahu-Smotrich government' of trying to bury the two-state solution.
Peace Now said the move violates an explicit commitment by the state.
Implementing E1 threatens to disconnect dozens of Bedouin communities, including Khan al-Ahmar, and lead to their expulsion.
Framing: Headline emphasizes Europe and Canada condemning the plans. It omits the tender details and Palestinian response. — Alarmed — uses words like 'genocidal', 'deeply alarmed', 'erasure'.
Facts Included:
The UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada and Norway called the opening of construction tenders 'unacceptable'.
They warned of 'legal and reputational consequences' for participants.
Egyptian Foreign Ministry expressed 'complete rejection' and called for serious steps.
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim said the plans 'gravely undermine' the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian homeland.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the secretary-general was 'deeply alarmed' by reports of new illegal settlement outposts.
Israeli settlements and outposts are illegal under international law.
Development has accelerated since the start of the Israeli government's 'genocidal war' on Gaza in October 2023.
The project would connect East Jerusalem to Maale Adumim on 12 sq km.
The settlement would bisect the West Bank and cut off East Jerusalem.
Israel gave final approvals in last August, with Smotrich hailing it as 'historic' and saying 'The Palestinian state is being erased'.
At least 21 countries condemned the plans at the time.
Rights groups warn of mass displacement of Palestinians.
UN research found more Palestinians forcibly displaced in first four months of 2026 than in all of 2025.
Human Rights Watch said dozens of communities at risk of erasure.
Analysts linked the scramble to Israel's upcoming elections.
Framing: Headline emphasizes the joint international condemnation by five countries. It omits the specific tender details and the court challenge. — Measured — describes the actions factually, e.g., 'issued a tender' and 'opponents have warned'.
Facts Included:
On Wednesday, the Israeli housing ministry issued a tender for 1,234 of the 3,401 housing units approved by the government last August.
The plan covers about 12 sq km (4.6 sq miles) between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Maale Adumim.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an ultranationalist and settler, said the idea of a Palestinian state was 'being erased'.
The deadline for bids is 19 October, just days before Israel's general election on 27 October.
Israel has built about 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews since the 1967 occupation.
An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live alongside these settlements.
Expansion has risen sharply since Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022, and the Gaza war began with Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack.
Opponents warn E1 would block a Palestinian state by cutting off the north of the West Bank from the south.
Framing: Headline emphasizes the opening of tenders for the controversial project. It omits the international condemnation. — Measured — presents facts and quotes from all sides without overt alarm.
Facts Included:
Israel has built about 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews since 1967.
An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live alongside them.
Expansion has risen sharply since Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022 and the Gaza war started.
Israel held off on E1 for decades under international pressure.
The current government gave go-ahead for E1 a year ago to 'erase' the idea of a Palestinian state.
The housing ministry issued a tender for 1,234 of 3,401 units.
Tender covers about 12 sq km between East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim.
Smotrich said the idea of a Palestinian state was 'being erased'.
Deadline for bids is 19 October, days before the 27 October election.
Israel captured West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967 and annexed East Jerusalem in 1980 (not recognized).
Opponents warn E1 would cut off north from south and prevent Palestinian urban contiguity.
Peace Now said the government is trying to sign contracts before elections to make it harder to cancel.
Jamal Juma from Stop the Wall said more than 40 Bedouin communities would be evicted.
Framing: Headline emphasizes the opening of tenders for the controversial project. It omits the international condemnation. — Measured — presents facts and quotes from all sides without overt alarm.
Facts Included:
Israel has built about 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews since 1967.
An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live alongside them.
Expansion has risen sharply since Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022 and the Gaza war started.
Israel held off on E1 for decades under international pressure.
The current government gave go-ahead for E1 a year ago to 'erase' the idea of a Palestinian state.
The housing ministry issued a tender for 1,234 of 3,401 units.
Tender covers about 12 sq km between East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim.
Smotrich said the idea of a Palestinian state was 'being erased'.
Deadline for bids is 19 October, days before the 27 October election.
Israel captured West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967 and annexed East Jerusalem in 1980 (not recognized).
Opponents warn E1 would cut off north from south and prevent Palestinian urban contiguity.
Peace Now said the government is trying to sign contracts before elections to make it harder to cancel.
Jamal Juma from Stop the Wall said more than 40 Bedouin communities would be evicted.
Framing: Headline emphasizes the condemnation by five countries. It omits the tender specifics and the court challenge. — Measured — similar to the other BBC article.
Facts Included:
On Wednesday, the Israeli housing ministry issued a tender for 1,234 of the 3,401 housing units approved by the government last August.
The plan covers about 12 sq km (4.6 sq miles) between East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim.
Smotrich said the idea of a Palestinian state was 'being erased'.
The deadline for bids is 19 October, just days before Israel's general election on 27 October.
Israel has built about 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews since the 1967 occupation.
An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live alongside them.
Expansion has risen sharply since Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022, and the Gaza war began.
Opponents warn E1 would block a Palestinian state by cutting off the north from the south.
Framing: Headline emphasizes the internationally condemned plan that could 'bury' the two-state solution. It omits the specific countries condemning. — Slightly alarmed — uses phrases like 'bury', 'last-minute maneuver', 'scorched-earth policy'.
Facts Included:
Israel's Housing Ministry issued a notice inviting bids for more than 1,200 housing units in E1.
E1 aims to create a continuous bloc of Jewish settlements from East Jerusalem to the West Bank.
The settlement would divide the West Bank into north and south, making a contiguous Palestinian state impossible.
Bids are due one week before Israeli elections at the end of October.
Peace Now called it a 'last-minute maneuver' and 'scorched-earth policy'.
For years, Israel delayed E1 due to international criticism, but Netanyahu's government accelerated approvals.
Western countries, including Canada, Australia, Germany, warned companies against participation in May.
Smotrich said, 'The Palestinian state is being erased from the table, not with slogans, but with actions.'
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Milliband called it an 'unacceptable and destructive act', threatening sanctions.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded on X, criticizing Britain's lecture.
Riyad Mansour, Palestinian ambassador to UN, called it 'extremely dangerous, irresponsible, and threatening'.
Egyptian government slammed the tenders and called on international community to stop them.
Framing: Headline emphasizes the four countries slamming the project. It omits the tender specifics and Israeli response. — Slightly alarmed — uses phrases like 'unacceptable', 'existential threat'.
Facts Included:
France, Germany, Britain, Italy condemned plans for E1.
They cited 'grave instability' and 'unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians'.
They urged Israel to retract plans immediately and warned businesses of legal consequences.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have settled among millions of Palestinians.
Settlements are illegal under international law.
Israel approved plans for 12 sq km area east of Jerusalem in August last year.
The plan seeks to build around 3,400 homes.
The UN secretary general said E1 posed an 'existential threat'.
The project would further separate east Jerusalem from West Bank.
Peace Now said tender published on August 18, bids due by October 19.
Peace Now said the homes are about one-third of the planned E1 development.
Israel heavily restricts movement of West Bank Palestinians.
Framing: Headline emphasizes European leaders' demand to halt the project. It omits the tender specifics and Israeli response. — Slightly alarmed — uses phrases like 'unacceptable', 'existential threat'.
Facts Included:
Leaders of seven countries (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, UK, Norway, Canada) condemned the settlement project.
They cited 'grave instability' and 'unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians'.
They urged Israel to retract plans immediately.
The E1 plan was green-lit last year and would separate east Jerusalem from West Bank.
The UN secretary general said E1 posed an 'existential threat' to a contiguous Palestinian state.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot called the tenders 'unacceptable'.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband demanded an end, and London summoned Israel's charge d'affaires.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar rejected Miliband's statement and accused UK of 'patronising tone'.
Sa'ar said Jews have the right to live throughout the Land of Israel.
Israel approved the plans for about 12 sq km area in August last year.
The plan seeks to build around 3,400 homes.
Peace Now said the tender was published on 18 August, bids due by 19 October.
Peace Now accused the government of trying to advance construction before the vote.
Israel heavily restricts movement of West Bank Palestinians.
Last year, 21 countries condemned Israeli approval of E1.
Excluding east Jerusalem, about 3 million Palestinians and 500,000 Israeli settlers live in West Bank.
Violence against Palestinians by settlers has increased since 7 October 2023.
Framing: Headline emphasizes France and allies pressing Israel to abandon the plan. It omits the tender specifics and Israeli response. — Slightly alarmed — uses phrases like 'unacceptable', 'cut the West Bank in two'.
Facts Included:
France joined Germany, Italy, UK in calling on Israel to halt settlement expansion and withdraw tenders.
The joint statement cited 'grave instability' and 'unprecedented levels of violence by settlers'.
They said E1 would undermine two-state solution by creating a division across West Bank.
Israel approved E1 programme in August 2025, paving way for around 3,400 homes in 12 sq km.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot echoed concerns, saying E1 would 'cut the West Bank in two'.
Israel's Housing Ministry issued tenders on Tuesday, according to Peace Now and Israeli media.
Bids are open until 19 October, eight days before Israel's general election.
France, Germany, UK, Italy warned companies against bidding, citing legal and reputational consequences.
The statement described the launch as 'unacceptable'.
Framing: Headline focuses on the four countries' call to withdraw the E1 plans. It omits the tender details and other international reactions. — Slightly alarmed — uses words like 'unacceptable' and 'immediately'.
Facts Included:
Germany, the UK, Italy, and France assessed Israel's decision to issue a tender as unacceptable.
They urged immediate withdrawal and halt to settlement expansion.
The joint statement said a settlement in E1 would undermine two-state solution by driving a wedge through the West Bank.
International law is clear that settlements are illegal, reaffirmed by the UN Security Council.
The statement noted 'grave instability' with 'unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians'.
Leaders urged Israel to retract plans and end expansion.
They warned companies about legal and reputational consequences.
The Israeli Planning Administration approved plans in August 2025 to build 3,400 housing units in E1.
Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich said these actions were aimed at 'wiping out the Palestinian state'.
Smotrich announced on August 14, 2025, the resumption of the project.
UN Security Council Resolution 2334 in December 2016 demanded an end to settlement activities, and Israel refused to comply.
Framing: Headline emphasizes the government opening bidding on the project. It omits the international condemnation and details on the court challenge. — Measured — focuses on the facts and Peace Now's statement without strong emotional language.
Facts Included:
The government issued a tender for construction of seven residential compounds housing 1,234 housing units in E1.
Tender gives contractors until October 19 to bid, a week before October 27 election.
The housing units are some of the roughly 3,400 E1 units greenlit last August.
Smotrich lauded the plan, saying it 'practically erases the two-state delusion'.
Peace Now said the government is trying to realize the settler right wing's vision of annexation and tie the hands of the next government.
Peace Now said implementing E1 would isolate dozens of Bedouin communities, including Khan al-Ahmar, and lead to expulsion.
Peace Now charged the tender was published in violation of an explicit commitment by the state.
The State Attorney's Office in July told petitioners that no E1 tenders were expected in the next two to three months, with early notice in case of changes.
A single month later, the tender opened with no early notice, Peace Now said.
The project was frozen for long years amid international opposition, including past US administrations.
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimOn or about mid-August, the Israeli housing ministry issued a tender for 1,234 of the 3,401 housing units in the E1 project that the government approved the previous August.
ClaimSettlement expansion has risen sharply since Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022 and since the Gaza war began with Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack.
ClaimOpponents warn that the E1 project would block a Palestinian state by cutting off the north of the West Bank from the south and preventing contiguous Palestinian urban development linking Ramallah, East Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
ClaimPeace Now said the government is trying to sign contracts with contractors before the elections so it will be much harder for the next government to cancel the construction.
ClaimGermany, the United Kingdom, Italy and France jointly called Israel's decision to issue the E1 construction tender unacceptable and urged immediate withdrawal of the plans and a halt to settlement expansion.
ClaimThe joint European statement said a settlement in E1 would undermine the two-state solution by driving a wedge through the West Bank and harming Palestinian territorial contiguity.
ClaimThe joint statement said international law is clear that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal, a position reaffirmed by the UN Security Council.
ClaimThe joint statement cited grave instability in the West Bank with unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians and serious restrictions on the Palestinian economy.
ClaimThe joint statement warned companies not to participate in the construction tenders because of legal and reputational consequences, including the risk of involvement in serious breaches of international law.
ClaimIn December 2016, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2334 demanding an end to Israeli settlement activities, and Israel refused to comply.
ClaimUK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called advancing the E1 plans an unacceptable and destructive act and said Britain would not accept the destruction of the two-state solution.
ClaimIsraeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected Miliband's statement as patronising and said Jews have the right to live throughout the Land of Israel.
ClaimRiyad Mansour, Palestinian ambassador to the UN, called Israel's decision to move forward with E1 extremely dangerous, irresponsible and threatening.
ClaimLeaders of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Norway and Canada condemned the E1 settlement project in a joint statement.
ClaimBelgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot called the E1 tenders unacceptable and said the project would seriously undermine the viability of the two-state solution.
ClaimPeace Now said Israel's housing ministry published the E1 tender on 18 August and opened it for bids, with the homes accounting for about one-third of the planned E1 development.
ClaimThe Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission warned advancing E1 would confine Palestinians in the West Bank to disconnected enclaves surrounded by settlements.
ClaimPeace Now charged that the E1 tender was published in violation of an explicit commitment by the state; the State Attorney's Office in July had told petitioners no E1 tenders were expected in the next two to three months and that early notice would be given.
ClaimUN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the secretary-general was deeply alarmed by reports of new illegal Israeli settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, including the new tenders.
ClaimUN research found more Palestinians were forcibly displaced by settler attacks, demolitions and evictions in the first four months of 2026 than in all of 2025.
ClaimIn May, Western countries including Canada, Australia and Germany warned companies against participating in West Bank settlement and E1 construction because of legal and reputational consequences.