UK Minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood voiced his concern Tuesday over the Israeli announcement to establish new settlements in the West Bank, describing it as "illegal".

"I am deeply concerned by the announcement of new settlement units in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, he said in a statement.

"Settlements are illegal under international law. As noted in the report issued by the Middle East Quartet on 1 July, steps like this also make a two state solution more difficult to achieve," he added.

Source: MENA