Israel just passed a law legalizing West Bank settler homes that could 'undermine' the US

Israel passed a law on Monday retroactively legalizing about 4,000 settler homes built on privately owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli Knesset voted 60 to 52 to pass the law, which has drawn international concern and Palestinian anger.

US President Donald Trump, who has unabashedly supported Israel, said the law "may not be helpful" in US-backed efforts to bring peace to Israel and the Palestinians.

A White House official told the Jerusalem Post that the decision to legitimize settlements by Israel could hurt overall peace negotiations.

"We urge all parties to refrain from taking unilateral actions that could undermine our ability to make progress, including settlement announcements. The administration needs to have the chance to fully consult with all parties on the way forward," said the official.

Later the White House said it hadn't taken an official position on the settlements.

Under Obama, the White House was less supportive of Israel's settlements. Michael Koplow, a Middle East analyst at the Israel Policy Forum, told Business Insider that Israel's settlement bill likely frustrated Obama, who attempted to release $221 million in US Agency for International Development funds to the Palestinian Authority as one of his last acts in office.

Trump froze the funds to review the transaction upon taking office.

The passing of the law coincides with a series of Israeli air strikes on Hamas in Gaza carried out in response to Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel.