More than a dozen countries, mostly from Europe, on Wednesday sharply criticized the Israeli Cabinet's approval of the construction of 19 new settlements in the West Bank and called on Israel to reverse the decision.

The group includes Germany, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom

They condemned Israel's actions, saying they "not only violate international law but also risk fueling instability," a joint statement posted on the German Foreign Office's website stated.

The new settlements approval also risks undermining the Gaza peace plan and harms "prospects for long term peace and security across the region."

West Bank captured by Israel in 1967

Israel recently approved the creation of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. In 1967, Israel took control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where today more than 700,000 settlers live among some 3 million Palestinians.

The settlements are illegal under international law.

The United Nations considers the Israeli settlements to be a major obstacle to a peace settlement because they would leave little contiguous territory for the Palestinians in a possible two-state solution that allows for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to exist peacefully side by side.