Israel Publishes Jan 6 Tender, Clearing Final Barrier to E1 Settlement Construction
Updated (2 articles)
Government Tender Published on Jan 6, 2026 Removes Final Barrier Israel’s Land Authority posted a tender on 6 January 2026 inviting developers to submit bids for the E1 project, effectively clearing the last procedural hurdle before construction can begin [1][2]. The tender calls for the development of 3,401 housing units, a scale detailed in the AP report [1]. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far‑right figure who oversees settlement policy, has championed the plan, underscoring strong domestic political backing [1].
Peace Now’s Disclosure Triggers Immediate International Scrutiny The anti‑settlement watchdog Peace Now was the first to reveal the tender, prompting renewed media and diplomatic attention [1][2]. Yoni Mizrahi, head of Peace Now’s settlement‑watch division, warned that construction could start within a month of the tender’s release [1][2]. Their alert has spurred protest planning and heightened monitoring of any on‑the‑ground activity.
E1 Development Project Aims to Build Thousands of Homes The tender’s scope includes a large‑scale residential plan rather than limited infrastructure, with the AP specifying 3,401 new homes [1]. The project is framed by its proponents as a normal housing expansion, while critics view the size as a deliberate effort to cement Israeli presence east of Jerusalem [1]. Smotrich’s involvement signals that the settlement agenda remains a priority in the current government’s policy agenda [1].
Critics Warn Project Would Sever West Bank Contiguity Analysts and Palestinian officials argue that building across the E1 corridor would link Jerusalem directly to Israeli‑controlled areas, effectively cutting the West Bank and undermining the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian state [1][2]. The international community broadly regards such settlement construction as illegal under international law, heightening diplomatic pressure on Israel [1]. Both reports stress that the tender transforms a long‑standing proposal into an imminent construction phase with significant geopolitical ramifications [1][2].
Sources
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1.
AP: Israel posts tender to build controversial E1 settlement east of Jerusalem: details a 3,401‑unit housing tender, Smotrich’s backing, legal objections, and predicts work could start within a month .
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2.
The Hindu: Israel clears final hurdle to start E1 settlement construction near Jerusalem that would split the West Bank: highlights the tender as the final administrative step, Peace Now’s exposure, and warns of contiguity impacts, without specifying unit numbers .
Timeline
1990s–2000s: Israeli planners identify the E1 tract east of Jerusalem as a strategic corridor linking Jerusalem to West Bank settlements, a concept discussed for over two decades (source [1]).
Early 2010s–2024: The E1 project stays frozen under sustained U.S. diplomatic pressure, preventing any procurement or construction activity (source [1]).
2025: The Israeli government grants final approvals for the E1 development, clearing the political hurdle after years of suspension (source [1]).
2025: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who oversees settlement policy, publicly champions the E1 plan and frames it as a step that negates a future Palestinian state (source [1]).
Jan 6, 2026: Israel posts a government tender on the Israel Land Authority website inviting bids to build 3,401 housing units in E1, formally moving the project from planning to procurement (source [1]).
Jan 6, 2026: The tender specifically solicits developer proposals, removing the last procedural barrier and signaling that construction contracts will soon be awarded (source [2]).
Jan 6, 2026: Peace Now first exposes the tender, alerting the public and international observers that the administrative step enables imminent construction (source [2]).
Jan 6, 2026: Yoni Mizrahi of Peace Now’s settlement‑watch division says construction could begin within a month, indicating that on‑the‑ground work may start by late January 2026 (source [1],[2]).
Jan 6, 2026: Critics warn that the E1 development would cut from Jerusalem into the West Bank, severing Palestinian territorial continuity and undermining the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian state (source [1]).
Late Jan 2026 (expected): Initial groundwork and infrastructure work is anticipated to commence within weeks of the tender publication, marking the first physical phase of the settlement (source [1]).