Israel land appropriation "deeply unhelpful": New Zealand FM

The New Zealand government on Thursday expressed concern over Israel's most recent appropriation of land in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully said New Zealand, currently a temporary member of the United Nations Security Council, would be talking with other Security Council members about an appropriate response to the "deeply unhelpful" appropriation.

"Israel's settlement activity continues to threaten the viability of a two-state solution," McCully said in a statement.

"New Zealand would like to see both sides return to the negotiating table and this latest announcement will only serve to push the two parties further apart," he said.