Israel opens two new housing tenders for illegal settlements around Jerusalem

Israel has published two tenders for building new homes in illegal settlements around occupied East Jerusalem. According to the statement, the first tender was announced on 7 October.

Two separate projects

The first tender covers 350 homes set aside for the elderly in the "Maale Adumim" settlement, along with commercial and business areas. The same project had been put out to tender earlier this year but was withdrawn because no bids were submitted. The statement said re-tendering it amounts to marketing the same project again. The deadline for this tender is 30 December.

The second tender envisages building 730 homes east of the "Pisgat Zeev" settlement. The project covers four plots totaling 27.5 dunams. Alongside homes for sale and long-term rent, commercial, business and service areas are planned. The deadline for this tender is 28 December.

The statement stressed that the projects expand the area of illegal settlements in and around Jerusalem, increase Israel's dominance in the region and shrink the geographic space in which Palestinians can expand.

Background

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in late June that during his term he had led the establishment of 160 new unauthorized settlements in the occupied West Bank and the recognition of more than 100 illegal outposts.

Kfar Etzion, in the southern West Bank, is regarded as the first Jewish settlement, as it was founded right after Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. Hundreds of illegal settlements were built in the West Bank afterwards. About 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank excluding East Jerusalem. Under international law, Israel's establishment of Jewish settlements on occupied land and transfer of its population there are considered illegal.