Britain on Thursday condemned an Israeli announcement of the expansion of an illegal settlement in occupied East Jerusalem.

Some 181 new housing units are to be built in the Gilo settlement in the occupied West Bank after an Israeli judge ruled in favour of the construction project.

Minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood said: “We condemn the recent announcement by the Israeli authorities to approve permits for constructing 181 new homes in the illegal settlement of Gilo in East Jerusalem.”

“We are extremely disappointed that Israel has proceeded with approving permits despite the serious international concern and condemnation when these plans were first announced in 2012.”

“All settlements are illegal under international law. This announcement is the latest example of an accelerating systematic policy of illegal settlement expansion. It takes us further away from a two-state solution and raises serious questions about the Israeli government’s commitment to achieving the shared vision of Israel living side-by-side a viable, independent, and contiguous Palestine state,” he added.