Israel Delays E1 Settlement Tender Amid Election Concerns, Minister Calls for West Bank War

Israel's Attorney General has instructed a one-month delay in the bidding deadline for a controversial settlement project in the E1 area, east of Jerusalem, pushing it past the upcoming Israeli elections. The decision aims to prevent the tender from being exploited for political campaigning.

The legal directive, reported by the newspaper Haaretz, seeks to "reduce concerns" about the tender's use in election rhetoric, even as Israeli authorities continue to advance construction plans in E1, located between Jerusalem and the Ma'ale Adumim settlement in the West Bank. The delay affects the timeline for bids but does not cancel the project itself. The final submission date for tenders was originally set for October 25, just two days before the elections, for 2,167 settlement units. This follows a separate tender last month for approximately 1,200 units, bringing the total approved units in E1 to 3,401. The E1 project has faced significant international opposition due to its location, which critics argue would sever geographic contiguity between the northern and southern West Bank, undermining the possibility of a viable Palestinian state.

Concurrently, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for "war" in the West Bank and the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, comparing the desired action to Israel's operations in Gaza. Speaking on a podcast, Smotrich stated, "I believe we must go to war in Judea and Samaria," and "we do there what we did in Gaza. We dismantle the Palestinian Authority, it is a PA of terror."

Smotrich's remarks came in response to warnings from senior Israeli military and security officials about the escalating situation in the West Bank and rising settler violence. He dismissed these warnings as insufficient, urging the military to propose concrete actions rather than just issuing alerts. Smotrich has made expanding settlements and altering the administration of the West Bank central to his political platform.

However, the head of the Ma'ale Adumim settlement council opposed the tender delay, vowing to appeal the decision. He argued that the project's advancement was a long-standing political decision and that halting it now constitutes a political intervention. The E1 project continues to face international pressure, with some countries warning companies against participating in tenders related to the development.