This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2026 shows a view of the E1 area in the West Bank near Jerusalem. Israel on Tuesday advanced plans for the controversial E1 settlement project in the West Bank, publishing a tender for 1,234 housing units. The tender, published online by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, covers part of a wider plan for 3,401 housing units in E1, an area east of Jerusalem. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
JERUSALEM, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Tuesday advanced plans for the controversial E1 settlement project in the West Bank, publishing a tender for 1,234 housing units.
The tender, published online by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, covers part of a wider plan for 3,401 housing units in E1, an area east of Jerusalem.
Critics say the move would undermine the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian state by separating the northern and southern West Bank.
Two Israel-based human rights groups, Ir Amim, Peace Now and Bimkom, said in a joint statement that even a partial implementation of the plan would create "irreversible facts on the ground, fundamentally altering the geographic and strategic character of the area," severing the northern West Bank from the south and isolating East Jerusalem.
The tender comes amid a major push to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government, ahead of Israel's October election.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in the Six-Day War of 1967 and has since built settlements widely deemed illegal under international law. It has accelerated settlement activities in recent years.
Last year, it approved the construction of 3,401 housing units in E1, which links the large-scale settlement of Maale Adumim with East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Authority has previously condemned the E1 project, saying it would further fragment Palestinian territory and undermine prospects for an independent state. ■
This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2026 shows a view of the E1 area in the West Bank near Jerusalem. Israel on Tuesday advanced plans for the controversial E1 settlement project in the West Bank, publishing a tender for 1,234 housing units.
The tender, published online by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, covers part of a wider plan for 3,401 housing units in E1, an area east of Jerusalem. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2026 shows a view of the E1 area in the West Bank near Jerusalem. Israel on Tuesday advanced plans for the controversial E1 settlement project in the West Bank, publishing a tender for 1,234 housing units.
The tender, published online by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, covers part of a wider plan for 3,401 housing units in E1, an area east of Jerusalem. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2026 shows a view of the E1 area in the West Bank near Jerusalem. Israel on Tuesday advanced plans for the controversial E1 settlement project in the West Bank, publishing a tender for 1,234 housing units.
The tender, published online by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, covers part of a wider plan for 3,401 housing units in E1, an area east of Jerusalem. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2026 shows a view of the E1 area in the West Bank near Jerusalem. Israel on Tuesday advanced plans for the controversial E1 settlement project in the West Bank, publishing a tender for 1,234 housing units.
The tender, published online by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, covers part of a wider plan for 3,401 housing units in E1, an area east of Jerusalem. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2026 shows a view of the E1 area in the West Bank near Jerusalem. Israel on Tuesday advanced plans for the controversial E1 settlement project in the West Bank, publishing a tender for 1,234 housing units.
The tender, published online by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, covers part of a wider plan for 3,401 housing units in E1, an area east of Jerusalem. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2026 shows a view of the E1 area in the West Bank near Jerusalem. Israel on Tuesday advanced plans for the controversial E1 settlement project in the West Bank, publishing a tender for 1,234 housing units.
The tender, published online by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, covers part of a wider plan for 3,401 housing units in E1, an area east of Jerusalem. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2026 shows a view of the E1 area in the West Bank near Jerusalem. Israel on Tuesday advanced plans for the controversial E1 settlement project in the West Bank, publishing a tender for 1,234 housing units.
The tender, published online by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, covers part of a wider plan for 3,401 housing units in E1, an area east of Jerusalem. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2026 shows a view of the E1 area in the West Bank near Jerusalem. Israel on Tuesday advanced plans for the controversial E1 settlement project in the West Bank, publishing a tender for 1,234 housing units.
The tender, published online by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, covers part of a wider plan for 3,401 housing units in E1, an area east of Jerusalem. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)
