Overview
- This week the Israeli Ministry of Housing opened a tender for more than 1,200 homes in the E1 area east of Jerusalem, with bids reportedly due by October 19.
- On Thursday France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany issued a joint declaration calling for the immediate withdrawal of the calls for bids and urging Israel to stop settlement expansion in the West Bank.
- The four governments said the E1 build-out would cut Palestinian territorial continuity between East Jerusalem and the West Bank and would undermine prospects for a two‑state solution.
- The statement warned companies not to bid because they could face legal exposure and reputational damage, reflecting a shift toward using corporate pressure rather than direct sanctions.
- E1 was approved in August 2025 for about 3,400 homes on roughly 12 square kilometres, and critics say the current tender—coming weeks before Israel’s elections—risks further isolating Israel internationally and heightening tensions after recent spikes in settler violence and restrictions on Palestinian areas.