Israel launches tender for 627 new homes in West Bank settlement of Kochav Yaakov

The Israel Land Authority announced a tender inviting construction firms to submit proposals for 627 new housing units in the Kochav Yaakov settlement, situated between northern Jerusalem and the twin cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh in the occupied West Bank. Bids must be received by November 30, shifting the project from planning to the marketing and implementation phase, fifteen months after its approval on April 27, 2025.

The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission describes the scheme as an effort to enlarge the illegal settlement’s footprint and strengthen its connections to adjacent settlements and access roads. Covering roughly 253.7 dunams, the development is part of a wider trend of Israeli authorities issuing tenders for settlement expansion, including industrial zones and tourism facilities. The commission notes that 12 settlement tenders involving 1,138 housing units have been announced in the first half of 2026. International bodies such as the United Nations and the International Court of Justice have repeatedly condemned settlement growth as a violation of international law.