Israel advances plan for 627 settler units in occupied West Bank
Israeli authorities have issued a tender for 627 new housing units in the Kochav Yaakov settlement in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission has condemned the move, citing it as an effort to deepen separation between Jerusalem and Palestinian areas.
Why it matters
Settlement expansion in the West Bank is a central and highly contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, impacting regional stability and international diplomatic efforts.
Israeli bulldozers prepare land for the construction of the new settlement of Dotan Valley, near the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, on July 13, 2026 [Alaa Badarneh/EPA] Israeli authorities have issued a tender for 627 new housing units in the Kochav Yaakov settlement in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission (CRRC).
The Israel Land Authority on Thursday published the tender for the project, which will be built on land in the Ramallah and al-Bireh governorate, the commission said on Saturday.
Israel set November 30 as the deadline for construction companies to submit bids, moving the project from planning to construction just 15 months after it was first approved, it said.
CRRC slammed the expansion, saying it is designed to "deepen the separation between Jerusalem and its Palestinian surroundings".
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