The key facts

  • The tender for 732 units in the Gvaot settlement near Bethlehem was published on Sunday; bids are accepted from December 1 to December 28
  • In addition to housing, the tender covers commercial facilities and public institutions; a separate tender was announced for land for commercial activity
  • From the beginning of 2026 through November 8, at least 28 tenders were issued, including 18 for 7,815 housing units

Tender near Bethlehem

Israeli authorities have published a tender for the construction of 732 housing units in the Gvaot settlement west of Bethlehem, in the southern West Bank. The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission reported this on Monday, citing official records of the Israel Land Authority. According to the commission, the tender was published on Sunday and is the first stage of a settlement expansion project in the Bethlehem governorate.

What the project includes

The tender covers multi-story residential buildings, commercial facilities, and public institutions. In addition, a separate tender was published for land in the same location designated for commercial activity, employment facilities, and public buildings. The commission viewed this as a plan to expand the settlement beyond residential construction — through economic and service infrastructure. Submission of bids will open on December 1, with a deadline of December 28. In the commission's assessment, the publication of the tender is an advanced procedural stage in the implementation of previously approved plans: companies and developers are given the opportunity to compete for contracts to develop the land.

The overall picture for 2026

According to the commission's review of Israel Land Authority records, from the beginning of 2026 through November 8, Israeli authorities issued at least 28 land tenders in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Of these, 18 covered a total of 7,815 housing units, while 10 concerned non-residential projects. The commission also notes an overall intensification of settlement activity: expansion of existing settlements, establishment of new outposts, seizure of Palestinian land, and demolition of Palestinian structures.

Context and legal status

According to the commission, around 770,000 Israelis live in hundreds of settlements and outposts in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, of whom approximately 250,000 are in East Jerusalem. The Anadolu Agency recalls that under UN Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted in 2016, Israeli settlements in the West Bank, occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law. It should be noted that the information on tenders cited comes from a Palestinian government body; the Israeli side is not quoted in the publication.