The Foreign Office has urged Israel to stop building settlements “on private Palestinian land”.

In a statement, Tobias Ellwood, Middle East Minister , said that “the UK is deeply concerned by reports that planning for 1,065 settlement units is being advanced, including possible retrospective approval of buildings without permits or on private Palestinian land.

“The UK’s position on Israeli settlements is clear: they are illegal under international law and undermine the prospects for a two-state solution.”

He added: “We call on the Israeli government to discard these plans and refrain from such steps. Every settlement announced has a negative impact on prospects for peace and a negotiated solution.”

The Foreign Office criticised settlement-building earlier in the year, when Mr Ellwood said the UK “condemned the government of Israel’s decision of January 30 to publish new tenders for 450 settlement units” in the West Bank.