Commenting on decisions taken by the Government of Israel on 19 March to advance plans for 2,372 new settlement units in the West Bank, Minister for the Middle East Hugh Robertson, said:

I condemn the decisions taken by the Israeli authorities to advance a number of settlement plans in the occupied West Bank. The UK’s position on settlements is longstanding: they are illegal under international law, undermine trust and threaten the viability of the two-state solution.

Nothing must detract from international efforts to secure a lasting, just and final settlement to the conflict.

Further information

Follow Foreign Office Minister Hugh Robertson on twitter @HughRobertsonMP

Follow the Foreign Office on twitter @foreignoffice

Follow the Foreign Office on facebook and Google+