Israel postpones tender deadline for E1 settlement project

Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has extended the deadline for bids to build apartments in the E1 settlement project by one month. Her office said the deadline now ends after the general election on October 27th. The postponement is intended to reduce the risk that the call for tenders will be used as election propaganda.

The project east of Jerusalem provides for a total of 3,400 apartments. In July, Israel's Housing Ministry put the construction of more than 1,200 of them out to tender. Critics say the settlement could effectively cut the West Bank into northern and southern parts, further reducing the prospect of a viable Palestinian state.

International protest

Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy called on Israel to end the project in August. Several Israeli organizations also filed a lawsuit against the tender. A Jerusalem court rejected an urgent application a good two weeks ago, arguing that there was still enough time for a legal review.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. Around three million Palestinians and more than 500,000 Israeli settlers live there. The settlements are illegal under international law.