RAMALLAH, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Sunday slammed Israel's decision on building a new settlement in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, saying it is a "clear result" of U.S. backing.

"Israel's decision to build a new illegal settlement in occupied Hebron is the first tangible result of the U.S. decision to legitimize colonization; this cannot be taken out of the context annexation," said Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

"Concrete measures, including sanctions against settlements, are an international responsibility," he tweeted.

His tweet came right after Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett approved the construction of a new settlement in Hebron.

Israeli settlement activity is deemed illegal by most world powers and the international law. It is considered one of the major issues that caused the collapse of the peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis in 2014.

According to the latest Palestinian data, around 400,000 Israelis live in 135 settlements and 100 illegal outposts in the West Bank, where the Palestinian population has reached 2.6 million.