The project would bisect the Israeli-occupied West Bank and separate it from East Jerusalem, further fragmenting territory that Palestinians seek as the core of a future state.
The tender for 2,167 housing units comes in addition to a previously announced tender for 1,234 units, bringing the total number of planned housing units under the project to 3,401, according to Israeli rights group Ir Amim.
A representative for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the decision on Thursday, saying the tenders for the E1 project violate international law.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a prominent figure in the governing right-wing coalition, has said the project would effectively “bury” the prospect of a Palestinian state.
The tender is scheduled to open for bidding on October 25, just two days before Israel is due to hold parliamentary elections.
Ir Amim said the bidding date reflected the government’s determination to proceed with the E1 project and establish what it described as an increasingly irreversible reality on the ground ahead of the election.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The E1 settlement project has faced opposition from several Western governments and advocacy groups, which have warned that its implementation could undermine prospects for a future peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Britain, France and Canada last week banned exports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has also warned that the E1 project could make the establishment of a viable Palestinian state more difficult.
Settlements in the West Bank have expanded significantly under Israel’s current right-wing coalition government.
The United Nations, Palestinians and most countries consider the settlements illegal under international law, a position disputed by Israel. Critics also regard the settlements as a major obstacle to achieving a negotiated peace.
