UK condemns Israel’s approval of 19 new West Bank settlements The United Kingdom on Sunday condemned the Israeli government's approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying that they are illegal under international law. "The UK condemns the Israeli government’s approval of 19 new settlements in Palestine. These are illegal under international law," Hamish Falconer, the British minister for the Middle East, wrote on the US social media company X. "This risks undermining the 20 Point Plan and prospects for the long-term peace and security that only a two-state solution can deliver," Falconer said. Falconer's remarks came after Israel approved a proposal for 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank.