Israel has approved six new tenders for settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, paving the way for 4,000 new housing units on Palestinian land in Salfit and Jerusalem. The expansion targets Ariel settlement in Salfit and Ma’ale Adumim east of Jerusalem, both illegal under international law.

According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Authority, three tenders will expand Ariel West with 730 new units, while another three target Ma’ale Adumim, including one plan for nearly 3,000 units. Maps reveal that the Ariel West project is more than two kilometres from the existing settlement, raising fears it is a disguised attempt to create a new settlement altogether.

The rapid approval and issuing of tenders reflects Israel’s strategy of imposing facts on the ground, accelerating land confiscation and deepening Palestinian displacement. For Palestinians, the move underscores the ongoing consolidation of occupation and the systematic erasure of their land and rights, further extinguishing hopes of a viable two-state solution.