Story perspectives

Israel tenders 2,167 E1 housing units before election

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 11:56 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Israel issued a tender for 2,167 housing units in the E1 settlement expansion.
The combined E1 plan now totals 3,401 units, adding an earlier 1,234-unit phase.
Bidding for the tender will open on October 25, two days before Israel’s parliamentary election.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the E1 plan will “bury” a future Palestinian state.
A representative for President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the tenders as violations of international law.

History

Historical Context

After the Oslo I Accord was signed on 13 September 1993, Israel and the PLO recognized each other, created the Palestinian Authority, and settlement construction dropped to 3,840 units in 1994-95. In October 2024 Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich tendered 2,167 new E1 units, prompting President Mahmoud Abbas to call the move illegal and a blow to the two-state vision.

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Story summary

Israel issued a tender for 2,167 housing units in the E1 settlement expansion.
The combined E1 plan now totals 3,401 units, adding an earlier 1,234-unit phase.
Bidding for the tender will open on October 25, two days before Israel’s parliamentary election.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the E1 plan will “bury” a future Palestinian state.
A representative for President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the tenders as violations of international law.

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