Israeli authorities have initiated a tender for 627 new housing units within the Kochav Yaakov settlement, located in the occupied West Bank. According to the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission (CRRC), the Israel Land Authority released the tender this past Thursday. The project is situated on land within the Ramallah and al-Bireh governorate, with construction firms given until November 30 to submit their bids. This move signals a shift from the planning phase to active implementation, occurring just 15 months after the project initially received approval on April 27, 2025.
The development covers approximately 253.7 dunams, or roughly 63 acres. The CRRC has criticized the expansion, arguing that it is specifically designed to “deepen the separation between Jerusalem and its Palestinian surroundings.” Kochav Yaakov is positioned between northern Jerusalem and the cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh, forming part of a settlement cluster managed by Israel under the designation “Binyamin.” The commission noted that the project will expand the settlement’s footprint and improve its connectivity to neighboring outposts and infrastructure, reflecting an increased focus on developing the economic and logistical capacity of these sites.
This latest tender is part of a broader trend of settlement activity observed throughout the year. The CRRC reports that Israeli authorities have issued 12 such tenders during the first half of 2026, encompassing 1,138 housing units across five primary settlements. These efforts also include the development of industrial zones, office spaces, nursing homes, and tourism facilities, which the commission describes as a strategy to tighten control over the region.
The expansion comes amid a significant rise in settler violence and settlement growth across the West Bank. Palestinian monitors have documented more than 11,000 incidents involving Israeli forces and settlers since the beginning of 2026. These actions continue to draw international condemnation, with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres repeatedly asserting that such settlements hold “no legal validity” and represent a “flagrant violation” of international law.
The legal status of these territories remains a point of intense international scrutiny. In 2024, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion declaring that Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful, a stance that continues to frame the global discourse regarding settlement construction in the West Bank.
According to CRRC, the new project covers 253.7 dunams (25.37 hectares or about 63 acres) and was approved by Israeli authorities on April 27, 2025.
Source: Aljazeera
