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Israel will open bidding Dec. 1 for 2,167 settlement homes in the E1 area east of occupied East Jerusalem, three Israeli rights groups said Tuesday.
Ir Amim, Bimkom and Peace Now said bids will be accepted through Dec. 28, describing the timetable as a sign of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government pushing ahead with the project while it remains in office.
The groups said homes were demolished and additional demolition orders were issued Nov. 3 in a Palestinian Bedouin community located within the project area.
They warned that preparations for construction were already underway before the bidding process opened.
A separate tender for another 1,234 settlement homes in E1 closed shortly before the Oct. 27 election.
The review of those bids was postponed until Nov. 19 on the attorney general’s instructions to prevent the process from being used during the election campaign.
The organizations said they asked the attorney general Monday to delay the review further until a new government takes office.
They warned that once bids are reviewed and contracts are signed, stopping construction would become significantly more difficult.
The E1 project would separate occupied East Jerusalem from Palestinian communities to its east and disrupt territorial links between the northern and southern West Bank.
The project has faced widespread international opposition, with governments warning that it could undermine prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
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