Israel clears final hurdle to start settlement construction that would cut West Bank in two

Israel has cleared the final hurdle before starting construction on a controversial settlement project near Jerusalem that will effectively cut the West Bank into two, according to a government tender.

The tender, seeking bids from developers, would clear the way to begin construction of the E1 project.

The anti-settlement monitoring group Peace Now first reported the tender.

Yoni Mizrahi, who runs the group’s settlement watch division, said construction could begin within the month.

The E1 project is especially contentious because it runs from the outskirts of Jerusalem deep into the occupied West Bank. Critics say it would prevent the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state in the territory.