Israel has invited contractors to bid on 1,200 housing units in the occupied West Bank, a move that critics say violates international law and tightens Israel’s hold on territory the Palestinians seek for a future state.
The construction bids were opened by Israel’s right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the country heads toward elections expected within months. The government has previously fast-tracked settlement expansion in the West Bank, which has continued for decades despite being widely considered illegal under international law.
The planned units are part of a broader policy aimed at cementing Israeli control over the West Bank and preventing the emergence of a contiguous Palestinian state. Among the projects is the controversial E1 settlement, which has drawn international criticism but has not been halted by it.
In response to the impending construction, some Western countries have threatened sanctions against Israel if it proceeds. Whether such measures would change Israel’s course remains an open question, one that was discussed by guests on Al Jazeera’s Inside Story programme.
Ammar Hijazi, ambassador and head of the Palestinian Mission to the Netherlands, and Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli ambassador and consul general in New York, joined the discussion to offer their perspectives on the implications of the new settlement push.
The announcement of 1,200 new housing units comes as Israel faces mounting international pressure over its settlement policy. With the threat of sanctions looming, the coming months will reveal whether diplomatic measures can influence Israel’s actions in the occupied West Bank.
