Israel Issues Tender for 1,234 E1 Settlement Units, Threatening Contiguity of a Future Palestinian State

Israel's housing ministry issued a tender for 1,234 of 3,401 planned housing units in the E1 corridor, 12 square kilometres between East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim. The bid deadline, 19 October, falls days before Israel's 27 October election. Opponents warn the project would sever the northern West Bank from the south, foreclosing a contiguous Palestinian state. Finance Minister Smotrich said the idea of a Palestinian state was "being erased."