Kathmandu— Israeli authorities have issued a tender for 627 new housing units in the Kochav Yaakov settlement located in the occupied West Bank, marking a transition from the planning phase to active construction. The project, situated within the Ramallah and al-Bireh governorate, was officially published by the Israel Land Authority on Thursday, moving the development forward just 15 months after its initial approval.

Expansion of Kochav Yaakov

The new project covers approximately 253.7 dunams, or about 63 acres, and was originally approved by Israeli authorities on April 27, 2025. The development is expected to expand the built-up area of the Kochav Yaakov settlement and strengthen its connections to access roads and neighboring settlements.

Located between northern Jerusalem and the twin cities of Ramallah and el-Bireh, the settlement sits within a cluster of settlements administered by Israel under the name Binyamin. The Israel Land Authority has set a deadline of November 30 for construction companies to submit bids for the project.

Concerns Over Territorial Control

The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission (CRRC) criticized the expansion, stating the move is designed to "deepen the separation between Jerusalem and its Palestinian surroundings." The commission noted that the decision reflects a broader trend of growing investment in the economic infrastructure of settlements rather than just residential housing.

This latest tender is part of a larger pattern of expansion observed throughout the year. According to the CRRC, Israeli authorities have issued 12 illegal settlement tenders in the first half of 2026, totaling 1,138 housing units across five main settlements, alongside various tenders for industrial zones, offices, and tourism facilities.

Legal and Security Context

The expansion comes amid a significant surge in both settlement activity and violence across the occupied West Bank. Palestinian monitors have recorded more than 11,000 attacks by Israeli forces and settlers in the region since January 2026.

International legal bodies have consistently challenged the legitimacy of these developments. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stated that Israeli settlements have "no legal validity" and constitute a "flagrant violation" of international law, while a 2024 International Court of Justice advisory opinion deemed Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territory unlawful.

The tender marks the transition of the Kochav Yaakov project into the marketing and implementation stage.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.