PRETORIA (Ma'an) -- South Africa on Thursday summoned its Israeli ambassador to express the country's concern over Israel announcing settlement expansion plans this week, local press reported.

Ambassador Dov Segev-Steinberg was informed of South Africa's rejection of the settlement expansion and seizure of Palestinian tax revenues, both announced after Palestine won the status of a non-member state at the UN, South Africa's The Times newspaper said.

In Europe, Spain, Denmark, France, Britain, Sweden and Italy have all summoned their Israeli ambassadors over the move, as well as Australia, Panama and Egypt.

Last Thursday, an overwhelming majority of UN members states voted for the Palestinian bid for upgraded membership.

A day later, Israel's government announced 3,000 new settler homes and accelerated planning for the strategic "E1" zone in the occupied West Bank.