Australia has joined a chorus of international criticism about Israel's plans to annex parts of the West Bank, urging a return to "direct and genuine negotiations" towards a peace agreement.
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne urged all parties to refrain from "land appropriations, demolitions, and settlement activity", which may threaten the prospects of a two-state solution.
"We are following with concern possible moves towards the unilateral annexation or change in status of territory on the West Bank," Ms Payne said in a statement.
"The focus needs to be on a return to direct and genuine negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians for a durable and resilient peace arrangement, as soon as possible."
Ms Payne said she had raised Australia's concerns with the annexation plans directly with her Israeli counterpart.
Her comments come as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said talks were continuing with US officials on the "application of sovereignty".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the driving force behind the annexation plans. Source: EPA
Mr Netanyahu had set 1 July as the date from which it could begin implementing US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace proposal.
There has been no major announcement on Israel's self-imposed kick-off date, but Mr Netanyahu said he was also discussing annexation with his security chiefs, saying "further discussions will be held in the coming days".
Ms Payne's comments echo those expressed by other world leaders including Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said that although he was a "passionate defender of Israel," he viewed annexation as "contrary to Israel's own long-term interests."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne. Source: AAP
The West Bank is a landlocked territory running along the west bank of the River Jordan with as many as three million Palestinians living there.
Approximately 430,000 Israeli Jews live in the West Bank in hundreds of settlements and smaller outposts.
Annexation is a concept in international law in which a country declares sovereignty over a territory outside of its borders.
However, Mr Netanyahu says it is "not annexation", although Israel is planning to claim sovereignty over the chunks of the West Bank containing Jewish settlements.
On Wednesday thousands of Palestinians protested in Gaza against Israel's West Bank annexation plans, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said talks were ongoing on the project.
France, Germany, several other European states and the United Nations all oppose annexation, as do the Gulf Arab states, with which Israel has increasingly sought warmer ties.
Palestinians demonstrate against Israeli plans for the annexation of parts of the West Bank. Source: AP
Meanwhile, Jordan, one of only two Arab nations that has diplomatic ties with Israel, has repeatedly warned against the move, saying annexation could trigger a "massive conflict".
There has even been domestic opposition in Israel with the country's defence minister and alternate Prime Minister, Benny Gantz, who has said annexation must wait until the coronavirus crisis has been contained.
