Israel Tenders 1,234 E1 Settlement Units, Raising Stakes for Palestinian Statehood

Israel's housing ministry issued a tender for 1,234 of 3,401 planned units in E1 — a 12-square-kilometre corridor between East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim. The 19 October deadline falls days before Israel's 27 October election. Critics warn the project would split the West Bank, blocking a future contiguous Palestinian state. Finance Minister Smotrich said a Palestinian state was "being erased."