Defying US concern over Israel’s far-right government’s new plan to build thousands of new homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the Israeli government will continue building settlements and will not accept “preaching” from other countries.

“This is our country, the whole of it,” Smotrich said during a party meeting.

“Does anyone think Israel will be run like just another US state? I will not accept moral preaching from anyone,” he was quoted as saying by Kan radio station. Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, has also taken over much of the administration of the West Bank.

Most countries and the UN consider the settlements, built on land captured by Israel in the 1967 war, illegal under international law. Their existence and expansion for decades have been one of the most contentious issues between Israel, the Palestinians and international community.

Yesterday Sunday, the religious-nationalist government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented its plans to approve 4,560 new homes in various areas of the West Bank.

The State Department, reacting, stated that it is “deeply concerned” by this decision by Israel. “Following its longstanding policy, the United States opposes such unilateral actions that make the two-state solution more difficult to achieve and are an obstacle to peace,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

In response to Israel’s announcement, the Palestinian Authority indicated it would boycott the Joint Economic Committee meeting with Israel scheduled for today.

Since resuming prime minister in January, Netanyahu has pushed ahead with plans to build more than 7,000 new housing units, most of which will be built in the West Bank. It has also amended legislation to pave the way for the return of settlers from four settlements who have been evacuated.

According to the United Nations, about 700,000 settlers live in 279 Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, up from 520,000 in 2012.