A Scottish MEP has condemned the Israeli Government after a report found construction of illegal settlements in the West Bank is "continuing in full force".

The Settlement Watch report found that since Benjamin Netanyahu was elected prime minister in 2009, Israel has built housing in the Occupied Territories for at least 40,000 new settlers.

In 2015 alone, construction began on 1800 new housing units, with 256 of these built in illegal outposts and 32 on privately-owned Palestinian land, according to the report from leading Israeli peace advocacy organisation Peace Now.

Alyn Smith, SNP MEP for Scotland, has called on a complete halt on expansion in the wake of the report.

He said: "This report constitutes an important evidence of the expanding settlements in the Occupied Territories, which are the main obstacle to a long-overdue two-state solution. Indeed, actions of this Israeli Government have the potential to permanently corrupt the process of political negotiation.

"Outposts are carefully planned and strategically positioned, often on hilltops, to allow for future development and eventual connection to road network and infrastructure in the area. The scope and scale of fortifications is truly shocking.

“The current situation is unsustainable and the international community can’t sit tight while this obvious violation of international law and agreements is taking place.

"The actions of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Government against Palestinians not only violate their human rights but also harm Israel economically and politically."

Mr Smith noted that at present there are an estimated 547,000 settlers in the West Bank, and said Israeli expansion, forced evictions and land confiscations are against international law.

He added: "So far, Israel refuses to accept the world's calls to respect international law and continues to annex Palestinian territory, persists in demolishing Palestinians' homes and populating Palestine with Israeli citizens.

"There is no doubt, we are witnessing a systematic confiscation of the Occupied Territories, and the question is what are we going to do about it?"