US State Department Deputy Spokesperson, Mark Toner, described Israeli building of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegitimate and counterproductive to the cause of peace. In his daily brief, Toner revealed that the US administration was aware of new land tenders Israel offered for the construction of 450 new unites for Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem. "We remain deeply concerned about Israel's current policy on settlements, including construction, planning, and retroactive legalizations, and we remain unequivocally opposed to these kinds of unilateral steps that, frankly, seek to prejudge the outcome of any negotiations," the US official added .