Israel has published plans for one of its proposed new settlements in the occupied West Bank, upping the ante a day before planned new Gaza peace talks seen as vital to preventing a regional war, Reuters reports.

Far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said the move was a response to actions by the Palestinian West Bank leadership and countries which have recognised a Palestinian state.

“No anti-Israel or anti-Zionist decision will stop the development of the settlement. We will continue to fight against the dangerous idea of a Palestinian state. This is the mission of my life,” said Smotrich.

The new 60-hectare settlement called Nachal Heletz will form part of the Gush Etzion settlement cluster and connect the region with nearby Jerusalem, said Smotrich, who heads a pro-settler party and who himself is a settler.

Peace Now, an Israeli NGO, said: “Smotrich continues to promote de facto annexation, disregarding the Unesco Convention that Israel is a signatory to, and we will all pay the price.”