Israel Asks Builders to Bid on New West Bank Homes as European Countries Object

On August 6, Israel publicly asked construction companies to submit bids to build 627 new homes in Kochav Yaakov, a Jewish settlement — a community built on land Palestinians hope to claim for a future state — between Jerusalem and Ramallah. Approved in April 2025, bids close November 30. This is among 12 tenders for 1,138 units issued in early 2026, weeks after Britain, France, Germany, and Italy urged a halt.