Israel Opens Bids for E1 Settlement, a Project That Could End Palestinian State Hopes

Israel's Housing Ministry opened bids on August 18, 2026, for 1,234 housing units in E1, east of Jerusalem. The project would connect Ma'ale Adumim settlement to East Jerusalem, splitting the West Bank in two. Both supporters and critics say it would end any prospect of a Palestinian state. The UN, eight Muslim-majority nations, and fifteen European and North American leaders condemned the move.