Israel minister says 'we will build Jewish Israeli state' in West Bank

Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed on Friday to build a "Jewish Israeli state" in the occupied West Bank, a day after the government announced the creation of 22 new settlements in the territory.

Katz's words appeared directed at France's recent criticism of the war on Gaza, and reports that Paris could recongise a Palestinian state, something strongly opposed by Israel.

Israel has illegally occupied the West Bank since 1967 and has seized the Gaza Strip again, reducing much of the Palestinian enclave to rubble in its ongoing offensive.

"This is a decisive response to the terrorist organisations that are trying to harm and weaken our hold on this land - and it is also a clear message to (French President Emmanuel) Macron and his associates: they will recognise a Palestinian state on paper - but we will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground," Katz was quoted as saying in a statement from his office.

"The paper will be thrown into the trash bin of history, and the State of Israel will flourish and prosper."

Katz was speaking during a visit to the Sa-Nur settlement outpost in the northern West Bank.

Sa-Nur was evacuated in 2005 as part of Israel's disengagement from Gaza, promoted by then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, but has continued to expand settlements in the Palestinian territory since then.

Israel announced on Thursday the creation of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, putting further strain on relations with Western allies, increasingly criticial of the war on Gaza, which has killed over 50,000 Palestinians, and Netanyahu's actions.

Both the UK and neighbouring Jordan slammed the move, with London calling it a "deliberate obstacle" to Palestinian statehood.

Israeli settlements in the West Bank are regularly condemned by the United Nations as illegal under international law, and are seen as one of the main obstacles to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.