Israel pushes ahead with vast illegal settlement in heart of West Bank

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Emma Graham-Harrison and Quique Kierszenbaum in JerusalemJanuary 6, 2026 at 05:22 PM

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Israel is advancing plans to construct 3,401 homes in the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank. The Israel Land Authority posted a tender in December, with a mid-March deadline for submissions, signaling an accelerated timeline. The E1 project, located between Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Ramallah, would effectively divide the northern and southern West Bank for Palestinians. Critics argue this construction aims to prevent a two-state solution and create a one-state reality. While previous construction was blocked by the US and European allies, Israeli officials now intend to move forward, aiming to establish facts on the ground through housing and infrastructure development.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Peace Now 40% British government 40% Israel Land Authority 50% Yitzhak Rabin 50% Benjamin Netanyahu 50% Bezalel Smotrich ×260% East Jerusalem 60% Yonatan Mizrachi ×260% Palestinian state ×275% E1 ×680% West Bank ×485% Israel ×690%

Keywords

israeli settlement 100% west bank 90% e1 project 80% palestinian state 70% two-state solution 60% land grab 50% international law 50% benjamin netanyahu 40% bezalel smotrich 40%