Alistair Burt, the Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, has criticised Israeli plans for expanding settlements on the West Bank.

Avigdor Lieberman, Israeli Defence Minister, announced last week final approval would be given for building 2,500 new Jewish homes in the disputed territory.

In a statement on Twitter, Mr Burt said he was “concerned” by the development.

“Settlements are illegal under international law. The UK urges the Israeli authorities to reconsider plans that undermine prospects for a two-state solution,” he stated.

As well as the 2,500 new homes in major settlements such as Ariel and Maale Adumim, Mr Lieberman announced plans for a further 1,400 houses.

“We have committed ourselves to promoting construction in Judea and Samaria,” Mr Lieberman said.

Peace plans put forward by previous Israeli administrations have envisaged annexing some of the major West Bank settlements in return for giving other land to the Palestinians.