Story perspectives

Israel Opens Tenders for 1,234 E1 Settlement Units

8/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

Israel opened tenders for 1,234 settlement units in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank.
The tender deadline is 19 October, one week before Israel’s 27 October general election.
Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands and Norway issued a joint statement calling the plan unacceptable.
The statement warned companies of legal and reputational risks.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the E1 project threatens a contiguous Palestinian state.

History

Historical Context

The 1993 Oslo Accords, signed by Israel and the PLO, promised phased withdrawals and limited settlement growth, yet settlement construction rose to about 1,200 units annually from 1994-2000, doubling the settler population. In October 2024 Israel opened tenders for 1,234 new homes in the E1 zone, drawing condemnation from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada.

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Story summary

Israel opened tenders for 1,234 settlement units in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank.
The tender deadline is 19 October, one week before Israel’s 27 October general election.
Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands and Norway issued a joint statement calling the plan unacceptable.
The statement warned companies of legal and reputational risks.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the E1 project threatens a contiguous Palestinian state.

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