( CNN ) -- Israel came under fire Monday for claiming close to 1,000 acres of land in the Palestinian West Bank . Israel announced Sunday that the land in and around the Wadi Fukin valley , would become `` state land , '' clearing the way for the development of a new Israeli settlement . The affected land lies near Bethlehem and close to Bitar Ilit -- one of the biggest Israeli settlements in the West Bank . Farmers in the area have 45 days to appeal Israel 's decision to claim the land . `` The seizure of such a large swathe of land risks paving the way for further settlement activity , which -- as the United Nations has reiterated on many occasions -- is illegal under international law and runs totally counter to the pursuit of a two-state solution , '' United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement Monday . UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond issued a similar statement , criticizing the move . `` This is a particularly ill-judged decision that comes at a time when the priority must be to build on the cease-fire in Gaza . It will do serious damage to Israel 's standing in the international community , '' he said . `` Our position on settlements is clear : they are illegal under international law , present an obstacle to peace and take us further away from a two state solution at a time when negotiations to achieve this objective urgently need to be resumed . '' Hammond said efforts should be focused on securing a durable cease-fire in Gaza and lasting peace . `` We strongly urge the government of Israel to reverse this decision , '' he said . Teens ' abduction . Israeli officials told CNN the expropriation was linked to the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers who disappeared from the West Bank settlement of Gush Etzion in June . Tensions between Israel and Hamas ratcheted up after the teens ' bodies were found June 30 . Both sides last week agreed to an open-ended cease-fire following more than seven weeks of heavy fighting . Hamas has said the teens were abducted by Hamas militants who did not inform the group 's leadership about their operation . The Israeli Civil Administration , which rules over Palestinians in Israeli-controlled areas of the West Bank , has posted `` no trespassing '' signs in the valley . Farmer Mahmoud Mifrah , 66 , told CNN he had grown vegetables and olives in Wadi Fukin for 42 years and did not see why he should suffer the consequences of others ' crimes . `` We are the neighbors of the Israeli people , '' Mifrah said . `` We share water and air and everything . We have to find a way to live together . '' The Palestine Liberation Organization said the expropriation was the `` the largest Israeli land grab in the Occupied State of Palestine in three decades . '' `` This move is further proof of Israel 's relentless policy of destroying the prospects for a negotiated peace and an independent Palestinian state , living side by side the State of Israel in peace and security , '' the PLO said in a statement . The Israeli group Peace Now expressed bafflement at the move . `` It 's a crazy idea . In my view it 's collective punishment not only to Palestinians but also to Israelis that it 's actually killing our chances to get to peace some day , and a two state solution , '' spokeswoman Hagit Ofran said .
PLO says `` land grab '' destroys prospect for peace . Britain has urged Israel to reverse moves to claim land in the Palestinian West Bank . Israel announced Sunday almost 1,000 acres would become `` state land '' a move that could further inflame tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.