Israel moves forward with new West Bank settlement construction plans

Israel has issued a tender for new construction in the E1 area of the West Bank and is advancing plans for thousands of housing units beyond the Green Line. The Israeli military is also preparing to rebuild settlements that were dismantled in 2005.

The European Union and Germany have called on Israel to immediately halt the settlement project, calling it an obstacle to peace. Some Israeli media have criticized the government's approach to West Bank policy.