The Israel occupation regime has taken another step toward expanding illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank by issuing two separate tenders for the construction of 91 housing units in the Oranit occupation settlement, which is built on Palestinian land in Qalqilya Governorate.

According to the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, the new tenders cover 86 apartments in multi-storey residential buildings and five low-rise housing units distributed across seven separate building complexes.

The commission said the move forms part of the occupation regime's continued efforts to expand settlements across the occupied Palestinian territories despite growing international criticism.

Two separate tenders issued for 91 housing units

Tender No. 224/2026, published on 5 November, covers the marketing of land for the construction of 86 housing units across four residential complexes. The bidding process is scheduled to begin on 15 November, with applications remaining open until 21 December.

A second tender, No. 228/2026, published on 3 November, concerns the construction of five low-rise housing units in three separate complexes. Bids are due to open on 16 November, while the submission deadline has been set for 29 December.

The commission stressed that the publication of the tenders does not mean construction has already begun or that contracts have been awarded to construction companies. Rather, the figure of 91 units represents only the number of homes currently offered through the tender process.

Occupation regime delays E1 tender but keeps settlement plan unchanged

Meanwhile, the occupation regime has revised the timetable for another major settlement project in the E1 area, east of occupied Jerusalem near the Ma'ale Adumim occupation settlement.

Under the updated schedule issued on 5 November, the publication of tender documents and the opening of the bidding process for Tender No. 460/2025, covering 2,167 housing units, has been postponed from 25 October to 1 December. The deadline for submitting bids has also been extended from 21 December to 28 December.

The commission emphasized that the revised timetable does not indicate the cancellation of the project or any reduction in the number of planned housing units.

The total number of settlement units planned under the two E1 tenders remains 3,401, including 2,167 units under Tender 460/2025 and 1,234 units under Tender 186/2026.

Settlement expansion draws continued international concern

The E1 settlement project is regarded as one of the occupation regime's most controversial settlement plans because it would expand settlement construction between occupied East Jerusalem and the Ma'ale Adumim occupation settlement, further fragmenting Palestinian territory.

The United Nations and numerous countries have repeatedly stated that settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territories violates international law and undermines the prospects for a viable two-state solution.

Despite widespread international opposition, the occupation regime has continued to advance settlement expansion projects across the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem.(ILKHA)