The Israel Lands Authority put up a tender yesterday, Nov. 15, for 1,257 new housing units to be constructed in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Givat Hamatos. The tender invites companies to submit proposals for the construction of affordable apartments with a deadline of Jan. 18, 2021.

The Israeli right has been advancing the Givat Hamatos construction project for quite some time now. Together with the nearby Jewish neighborhoods of Gilo and Har Homa, the three would cement Israel’s sovereignty over east Jerusalem. In February 2020, ahead of the March elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Har Homa, pledging to build homes there and in the Givat Hamatos neighborhood. "We are connecting Jerusalem. We are connecting all parts of the united Jerusalem, the rebuilt Jerusalem," said Netanyahu.

The European Union’s High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell tweeted after the tender was published that he is "Deeply worried by Israel's decision to open tenders for new settlement at Givat Hamatos. Building will seriously damage prospects for a two-state solution in line with international law. We call on Israel to reverse this negative step."

EU reresentatives who visited the site the morning of Nov. 16 were forced to leave after far-right militants cursed them and called them anti-Semites. The EU delegation expressed its concern over the project, stating that it would be the biggest of its kind in 23 years to be constructed in an area considered Palestinian by international law.