OTTAWA – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says Israel’s plan to build new settlements on territory claimed by the Palestinians is not helping the cause of peace in the Middle East.

Baird was making his first public statement in the House of Commons on the controversial move by the Israelis, which was meant as retaliation after the Palestinians won greater recognition at the United Nations last week.

The Israeli settlement announcement sparked international condemnation from all of Canada’s allies, including the United States, which voted against the Palestinian motion at the UN.

The Harper government has been criticized for staying virtually silent on the Israeli move, beyond a generic statement that unilateral moves by either side were not good for the prospects of peace.

Baird reiterated the government’s heavy criticism of the Palestinian statehood bid during question period when he was asked about the settlements by the Bloc Quebecois.

But he emphasized that neither the UN vote nor the settlement announcement is helpful.