A group of 29 Democratic senators released a joint statement Friday calling on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reverse plans for a new housing development in the E1 area of the West Bank. The lawmakers, led by Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), stated that the construction project would effectively divide the Palestinian territory and hinder the possibility of a two-state solution. The group called on the Israeli government to rescind construction tenders and halt the expansion of settlements.
The project involves the E1 area east of Jerusalem, where Israel's Construction and Housing Ministry opened bidding on Aug. 18 for seven residential compounds. According to reports cited by the lawmakers, the development would include 1,234 housing units. The project has remained stalled for decades due to regional and international opposition, as critics argue it would isolate East Jerusalem from Palestinian population centers such as Bethlehem and Ramallah.
The senators' request follows a separate letter signed Wednesday by 44 Democratic senators and one independent seeking action against reports of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians. In their Friday statement, the lawmakers also urged the Trump administration to utilize existing authorities, such as targeted sanctions, to address the situation. The Oct. 19 deadline for contractors to submit bids for the E1 project remains in place as tensions emerge between Trump and Netanyahu regarding a U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza.
The scale of the project involves seven residential compounds and more than 1,200 individual homes. The lawmakers suggested that proceeding with this expansion could weaken Israel's international standing and undermine its prospects for long-term security.
The immediate outcome depends on whether Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government chooses to rescind the tenders or allow the bidding process to conclude in October. This tension occurs as the Trump administration pressures the Israeli government to accept a Gaza peace plan that requires a military withdrawal from that territory. Netanyahu has pushed back on the proposal, stating it must be contingent on the complete disarmament of Hamas. The deadline for contractors to submit bids for the E1 housing project is Oct. 19, 2026.