Israel opens up bids for highly sensitive West Bank settlement project
Peace Now said the tender covers about one-third of the approved plan and could make it harder for a future government to stop construction.
- On Tuesday, Maaleh Adumim Mayor Guy Yifrach announced the launch of 1,400 housing units in the E-1 corridor, advancing government plans to populate the contentious area between Maaleh Adumim and Jerusalem.
- First developed by the Shamir government in 1991, the plan to build in E-1 was later advanced by the Rabin administration in the mid-1990s, though American and European Union opposition halted efforts repeatedly.
- Spanning 12 square kilometers, the E-1 corridor was approved for 3,412 housing units by the Higher Planning Committee in August 2025. Yifrach said the construction is "vital to the future of Maale Adumim, to its continued growth, expansion, and the strengthening of its position as a strong city in Israel."
- European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the plan "undermines the two-state solution," while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich claimed "This reality buries the idea for good — there is nothing to recognize."
- Detractors argue new roads will not prevent Israel from effectively blocking Palestinian statehood, as international observers and Palestinians view E-1 as critical; without it, establishing a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital is impossible.
87 Articles
87 Articles
The Netherlands, together with a group of other countries, has reacted angrily to Israel's decision to open bidding for a highly controversial construction project in the West Bank. The group calls the progress of the so-called E1 project unacceptable. The joint statement was signed by the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Norway. According to the construction plan, approximately 3,400 homes for settlers will b…
Germany and European partners call Israel's settlement plans unacceptable, and they also warn business companies.
The Israeli government continues to push forward with its settlement plan in the occupied West Bank. This plan has drawn international condemnation and could divide…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 36% of the sources are Center, 36% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
