Israel issues tender for nearly 1,000 new settler homes in West Bank

The Israeli government has issued a tender for the construction of nearly 1,000 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, specifically in the Efrat settlement, according to the anti-settlement group Peace Now. This development is expected to increase the settlement's population by 40% and significantly hinder the growth of the nearby Palestinian city of Bethlehem. Peace Now criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration for advancing settlement expansion while the focus is on other pressing issues, such as the release of hostages. The international community, including the UN, regards these settlements as illegal and a major obstacle to achieving a two-state solution, which Palestinians seek for their future state. Over 500,000 Israeli settlers currently reside in the West Bank, which is under military occupation. Construction could begin within a year, pending the necessary permits and contracting processes.