UK Officials Say They Understood Israel Would Delay E1 Tenders Until After Election

British officials reportedly understood Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s August 11 remarks to mean Israel would not publish tenders for E1 construction before the October 27 election. Israel issued tenders about a week later for roughly 1,200 housing units, which the officials viewed as contradicting that understanding. Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the account, saying Sa’ar promised only that no physical change would occur before the election and that the tender implemented a plan approved more than a year earlier. Britain’s August 19 statement demanded the tender’s withdrawal and summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires.