Israel issues tender for over 700 settlement units near Bethlehem in occupied West Bank

Israeli authorities have issued a tender for the construction of 732 units in the Gvaot settlement west of Bethlehem in the southern West Bank, a Palestinian government body said Monday. The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said in a statement that Israeli authorities published the tender Sunday as part of the first phase of a project to expand illegal settlements in the Bethlehem governorate. The tender includes the construction of multistory residential buildings, commercial facilities and public institutions, the commission said, citing the Israel Land Authority’s official records.

The commission said bids would be accepted starting Dec. 1, with the submission deadline set for Dec. 28. Israeli authorities also published a separate tender for land designated for commercial activities, employment facilities and public buildings at the same location. The commission said the two tenders indicate plans to expand the settlement beyond residential construction by establishing economic and service facilities. It noted that issuing tenders represents an advanced procedural step toward implementing previously approved settlement plans, allowing companies and developers to compete for land development contracts.

According to the commission’s review of Israel Land Authority records, Israeli authorities issued at least 28 land tenders across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, between the beginning of 2026 and Nov. 8. Of those, 18 tenders covered a total of 7,815 settlement units, while 10 involved nonresidential projects. Israeli settlement activity has intensified across the occupied West Bank, including the expansion of existing settlements, establishment of new outposts, seizure of Palestinian land and demolition of Palestinian structures.

Around 770,000 Israeli occupiers live in hundreds of illegal settlements and outposts across the occupied West Bank, including approximately 250,000 in East Jerusalem. ​​​​​​​Under UN Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted in 2016, Israeli settlements in the West Bank occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law.