The European Union said it was "deeply disappointed" in a statement issued Thursday following Israel's announcement that plans for about 1,500 new homes in West Bank settlements would be going ahead.
"We are deeply disappointed that the Israeli Land Administration has published new tenders for 1,466 housing units in settlements in east Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank," the statement read. "This move is unhelpful to peace efforts."
"We call on the Israeli authorities to reverse this decision and to direct all their efforts towards an early resumption of the peace talks," it continued.
The EU has been working to clarify its legal economic guidelines regarding West Bank settlement products, and included what could be seen as a veiled threat of sanctions in their statement.
"We recall that the EU Foreign Affairs Council has also reaffirmed its commitment to fully and effectively implement existing legislation in relation to settlements," it said.
Plans for an additional 1,800 new buildings were announced on Thursday.
Israel initiated the sudden flurry of settlement activity in response to Monday’s Ramallah ceremony in which members of a united Fatah-Hamas government were sworn in.
The US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro voiced his concern over the new plans earlier Thursday.
Shapiro's disapproval of the Israeli construction plans came amid a serious policy disagreement with the US over its approach to the new Palestinian unity government.
The US envoy told Army Radio Thursday, "We oppose construction in the settlements and this type of announcement about building. This would happen with or without the disagreement on the new Palestinian transitional government."

Tovah Lazaroff and Herb Keinon contributed to this report.