Israel to seek bids for 2,167 homes in illegal E1 settlement project: Rights groups

Israel will open bidding on Dec. 1 for 2,167 illegal settlement homes in the E1 area east of occupied East Jerusalem, three Israeli rights organizations said Tuesday. Ir Amim, Bimkom and Peace Now said bids would be accepted until Dec. 28. They described the timetable as evidence of the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s determination to advance the project while it remains in power. The groups reported that homes had been demolished and additional demolition orders were issued on Nov. 3 in a Palestinian Bedouin community located within the project area.

They warned that preparations for construction were already underway before bidding opened. A separate tender for another 1,234 illegal settlement homes in E1 closed shortly before the Oct. 27 election. A review of those bids was postponed until Nov. 19 on the attorney general’s instructions to prevent their use in election campaigning. The organizations said they asked the attorney general Monday to delay that review until a new government takes office.

Once bids are reviewed and contracts signed, they warned, stopping construction would become much harder. The E1 project would cut occupied East Jerusalem off from Palestinian communities to its east and disrupt territorial links between the northern and southern West Bank. The project has drawn widespread international opposition, with governments warning that it jeopardizes prospects for a viable Palestinian state.