Israel Announces 1,080 New Settlement Homes in Occupied Jerusalem Area

Jerusalem, MINA – Israeli authorities have issued two construction tenders for a total of 1,080 settlement housing units in Occupied Jerusalem and its eastern surroundings, prompting warnings from Palestinian officials that the projects will further expand settlements and restrict Palestinian development.

The Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission announced on Monday that the tenders cover 730 housing units in the Pisgat Ze’ev settlement, north of Occupied Jerusalem, and 350 units for senior citizens in the Ma’ale Adumim settlement, east of the city.

The commission warned that the projects would strengthen Israel’s settlement presence, consolidate its control over occupied Palestinian territory, and further limit land available for Palestinian residential and urban development.

The first tender, numbered 212/2026, was published on October 13. It covers 730 housing units in the Dukhifat complex on the eastern edge of Pisgat Ze’ev, under planning scheme No. 101-0759894.

The project spans four parcels totaling approximately 27.529 dunums, or 6.8 acres. Plans include residential units for sale and long-term rental, commercial spaces, operational facilities, and service infrastructure. The opening of bid submissions is scheduled for November 16, 2026, with December 28 set as the final deadline.

The second tender, numbered 207/2026, was published on October 7 and covers 350 residential units for senior citizens in Ma’ale Adumim. The development also includes commercial and operational facilities under planning scheme No. 420/1/7/59/2.

According to the commission, the same project had previously been offered under tender No. 14/2026, which closed without receiving any bids. The latest announcement therefore represents another attempt to advance the development.

The commission said the combination of housing for different groups, commercial facilities, and supporting infrastructure reflected efforts to expand the residential and economic capacity of Israeli settlements.

It warned that repeatedly issuing construction tenders could turn settlement plans into permanent physical and demographic realities on occupied Palestinian land, reinforcing Israeli control over Occupied Jerusalem and surrounding areas while constraining Palestinian communities’ opportunities to expand.

Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are considered illegal under international law. Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits an occupying power from transferring parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies. In its 2004 advisory opinion on the construction of the separation wall, the International Court of Justice addressed the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The latest tenders come amid continued settlement planning across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission has reported that Israeli authorities advanced 100 settlement plans covering 12,300 housing units across the West Bank between early 2026 and September 13. A further 53 plans covering 5,783 housing units were reported in East Jerusalem.

Palestinian officials have repeatedly warned that settlement expansion threatens the geographic continuity of Palestinian communities by extending Israeli-controlled areas and limiting access to land. The latest projects, they say, add to the pressure on Palestinians seeking to remain in and develop their communities in Occupied Jerusalem and its surroundings.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)