The Israeli Security Cabinet has “secretly” approved the construction of 22 new illegal settlements on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, Al Jazeera says, citing Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

According to the newspaper, the cabinet “secretly approved two weeks ago the establishment of 22 settlements” in the occupied West Bank“.

The report added that the proposal was submitted by Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

The Palestinian presidency said that the approval of the new illegal settlements constitutes “a dangerous escalation that drags the region into a cycle of violence and instability”.