The United States strongly criticized, on Tuesday, Israel's decision to build settlements in the West Bank, affirming that it will "strongly oppose" such expansion on occupied Palestinian land.
"We are deeply concerned about the Israeli government's plan to advance thousands of settlement units," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
"We strongly oppose the expansion of settlements, which is completely inconsistent with efforts to lower tensions and to ensure calm, and it damages the prospects for a two-state solution," Price restressed. "We also view plans for the retroactive legalization of illegal outposts as unacceptable."
The spokesman stopped short of saying the decision would jeopardize relations with Israel but said that Washington was raising the issue with its close ally.
The criticism, which came under President Joe Biden's administration, was some of the strongest in years on Israel after former leader Donald Trump gave his blessing to settlements and annexations.
On his part, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh urged Washington to "confront" Israel on its "aggression" through the settlements.
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