ANKARA

Turkey has harshly condemned Israel's decision to further expand its settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

In a statement released on Friday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s settlement activities on occupied Palestinian land and its recent decision to approve the construction of 430 new settlements in the area.

"Israel's illegal decision is unacceptable for us and the international community," said the statement. "This Israeli action shows that they neglect the Palestinians' recent international initiative."

International law considers the West Bank and East Jerusalem occupied territories captured by Israel in 1967, deeming all construction of Jewish settlements on the land illegal.

Palestinian negotiators have insisted that the establishment of Israeli settlements had to end for the stalled peace talks with Israel to resume.

2014 marked a year of international support for Palestine.

In October, Sweden officially recognized the State of Palestine, becoming the first state to recognize Palestine as an EU member. Other EU nations had recognized Palestine before becoming members.

Sweden was therefore the eighth European state to recognize the Palestinian state after the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Malta and Cyprus.

It was the 135th state to recognize the state of Palestine.