Pyongyang, December 17 (KCNA) -- The Turkish foreign ministry on Wednesday condemned Israel for its decision to build 40 new settlements and a farm in the Efrat region of the West Bank.

The ministry said in a statement that Turkey strongly condemned Israel's latest decision to erect additional settlements on the Palestinian lands occupied by Israel in the West Bank.

Israel's continued settlements in the occupied lands are in violation of the international laws, said the statement, adding that Israel's attitude will leave all the efforts for peace fruitless.