Israel issues tender for 627 new settler housing units in West Bank

Jerusalem – The Israeli Ministry of Housing released a tender on Monday for the construction of a new residential settlement in the West Bank’s Efrat region, a move that Palestinian officials say is intended to weaken Palestinian connections to East Jerusalem. The project, which calls for the building of approximately 1,200 housing units over the next two years, is part of a broader pattern of settlement expansion that has drawn criticism from the Palestinian Authority and several international bodies.

Palestinian officials warned that the tender “deepens Israel’s systematic effort to sever the historic and religious ties of Palestinians to Jerusalem,” emphasizing that the location lies within a corridor linking the city’s Old City to surrounding Palestinian neighborhoods. Israeli authorities described the development as a “legitimate urban planning initiative” aimed at addressing housing shortages for Israeli citizens. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted that the expansion could further complicate the already fragile status‑quo in the contested area, while the United States reiterated its support for a negotiated two‑state solution but refrained from commenting on the specific tender. The announcement arrives amid ongoing diplomatic discussions about settlement activity and its impact on future peace negotiations.