Zionist Entity Issues Tenders for Expansion of WB Settlement

The Zionist entity published on Friday tenders for 283 new homes in a West Bank settlement, just days after announcing its biggest land grab on occupied Palestinian territory for three decades.

The expansion of the Elkana settlement, in the northwest of the West Bank, was approved in January and the tenders published Thursday, the so-called “Land Authority” in the Zionist entity said on its website.

It came after Tel Aviv announced Sunday its biggest land grab in the West Bank since the 1980s, saying it planned to expropriate 400 hectares (988 acres) of land in the south of the territory, between the cities of Bethlehem and Hebron.

That move drew international condemnation, even from the United States and some Israeli cabinet ministers.

The US State Department urged Israel to “reverse this decision,” and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was “alarmed” by Israel’s plans.

Israel’s settlement building, which is illegal under international law, is seen as an obstacle to any lasting peace with the Palestinians, who want their future state to be on land much of which Israel has annexed or built settlements on.

The move comes more than a week after the Palestinian resistance and the Zionist entity agreed on a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel launched early in July an offensive against the Palestinians in Gaza, with resistance managed to reach the heart of the occupying entity with thousands of rockets, as it fulfilled several military achievements including the ground confrontation against the Israeli soldiers.

More than 2000 were martyred during the assault, as well as more than 11000 others were injured.