A United Nations spokesman announced that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel on Monday to stop and reverse the troubling decisions regarding settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.

Deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq added in a statement, "The Secretary-General reiterates that settlements are a blatant violation of international law. They are a major obstacle to achieving a viable two-state solution and a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace."

He also added: "The expansion of these illegal settlements is a main driver of tension and violence and greatly increases humanitarian needs."

Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed on Monday that the United States is "deeply concerned" over the Israeli government's intention to approve thousands of building permits in the occupied West Bank.

The spokesman added that Washington calls on Israel to return to dialogue aimed at de-escalation.

He also said in a statement: "The United States opposes, according to its longstanding policy, such unilateral actions that make achieving a two-state solution more difficult and pose an obstacle to peace."

The Israeli government approved on Sunday a plan to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move strongly condemned by both the Palestinian and Jordanian governments.

Under this plan, the procedures for approving settlement construction will be greatly reduced, and the decision regarding settlement construction will be placed in the hands of Bezalel Smotrich, the Finance Minister and official responsible for settlements in the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

According to the Israeli "Kan" radio, the decision stipulates that building plans in settlements will be advanced without the approval of the political level, contrary to the situation that has existed for 25 years.

Previously, the procedures required that the Prime Minister and Defense Minister approve each stage of the construction plans separately, through four or more different approval processes, which take several years.