THE expansion of Israeli settlements in Palestine is likely to amount to a war crime, the United Nations human rights chief said today.

High commissioner for human rights Volker Turk said the record growth of Israeli settlements risks eliminating any prospect of a Palestinian state.

Most countries view the Israeli settlements as illegal under international law and even Israel’s biggest backer, the United States, admitted last month that the settlements are “inconsistent” with it after the Israelis announced plans for another spurt of settler house construction in the occupied West Bank.