Key facts
- Israel has issued a tender for 627 housing units in the Kochav Yaakov settlement in the occupied West Bank.
- The tender was published on August 6, 2026, with a bid deadline of November 30, 2026.
- The settlement is located on land belonging to the Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate.
- The project covers 253.7 dunams (62.69 acres).
- In the first half of 2026, 1,138 housing units were tendered across five settlements.
- Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian property in Wadi Rahim in the southern West Bank.
Israeli authorities have issued a tender for the construction of 627 housing units in the Kochav Yaakov settlement, located in the occupied West Bank on lands belonging to the Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate. The tender, published on August 6, 2026, with a deadline for bid submissions on November 30, 2026, marks the transition from the planning stage to the marketing and implementation phase for the project, which covers 253.7 dunams (62.69 acres).
The Wall and Colonization Resistance Commission reported that this move is part of an intensive residential expansion project and reflects Israel's ongoing strategy to consolidate its presence in the West Bank. The Kochav Yaakov settlement's location between northern Jerusalem and the cities of Ramallah and Al-Bireh is noted for its significance within the "Binyamin" colonial bloc.
This development follows Israel's approval of the planning scheme for the project on April 27, 2025. The Commission also documented 12 Israeli tenders during the first half of 2026, encompassing 1,138 housing units across five major settlements, including Ariel, Ma'ale Adumim, Immanuel, and Ganei Modi'in. These tenders also target industrial, commercial, and service facilities, indicating a trend beyond purely residential expansion.
International law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention and various UN resolutions, deems Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal and considers their construction a war crime.
Separately, Palestinian media outlets reported that Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian property overnight in Wadi Rahim in the southern West Bank, with footage showing settlers entering homes and setting fire to furniture.