Al-Quds city, April 18, SPA -- The Israeli government on Monday issued a tender seeking bids for construction of 50 new homes in aWest Bank settlement, raising the risk of new tensions withthe United States. Yaakov Harel, spokesman for the Israel Lands Authority,said the homes would be built in Elkana, a settlement nearthe line between Israel and the West Bank. He saidinfrastructure work has been completed, and construction ofthe homes could begin in two or three months. The U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan calls for a haltin all settlement expansion, and President George W. Bushlast week criticized such construction during a visit byIsraeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.--SPA1409 Local Time 1109 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/255567