The Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Daniel Taub, was formally summoned to the Foreign Office on Monday and told that the UK was “disappointed” by Israel’s decision to plan new homes in the settlements in the West Bank.

The summons follows Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that plans will be drawn up for 3,000 new Jewish homes east of Jerusalem, over the Green Line.

Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt said: “I set out the depth of the UK’s concern about these decisions and I called on the Israeli government to reverse them. The settlements plan in particular has the potential to alter the situation on the ground on a scale that threatens the viability of a two state solution.”

“I also made clear that the strength of our reaction stems from our disappointment that the Israeli government has not heeded the calls that we and others had made for Israel to avoid reacting to the UN General Assembly resolution in a way that undermines the Palestinian Authority or a return to talks.”