ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraq’s foreign ministry on Friday condemned Israel’s recent parliamentary vote on bills to annex the West Bank, calling on the international community to combat the Israeli government’s “expansionist measures” that threaten regional stability.

On Wednesday, far-right Israeli lawmakers voted to pass a preliminary bill that would see the Israeli government apply complete sovereignty over the West Bank settlements, and another to annex a large settlement called Ma'ale Adumim, located east of Jerusalem.

In a statement, the ministry expressed “Iraq's strong condemnation” of the decision, labeling the development “a step that constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and relevant [United Nations] UN Security Council resolutions,” as well as a direct violation of the Palestinian people’s rights.

“These expansionist measures undermine the prospects for stability and entrench the reality of occupation and settlement, threatening security and stability in the entire region,” the statement argued.

It further called on the international community to “stand firmly” against Israel’s policies and “expansion.”

The ministry reiterated Iraq’s support for the Palestinian people’s right to “self-determination and the establishment of their independent state,” with Jerusalem as its capital.

The Israeli parliament’s decision was opposed by the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and all but one of his National Liberal Movement (Likud) party lawmakers boycotted the vote, which led to the one decisive vote in favor of the bill, Israeli media reported.

The parliament-approved bills will be presented to the Israeli government’s foreign affairs ministry and defense committee, and will go through a number of readings before being passed as law.

The decision sparked large-scale condemnation from regional and international actors, including Israel’s main ally, the United States, which expressed disapproval of the move.

In an interview with Time Magazine published on Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that the annexation of the West Bank “won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries,” later assuring during a presser that “Israel’s not going to do anything with the West Bank.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday also warned that the step undermined the fragile US-initiated ceasefire in Gaza, stating: “I think the president has made clear that’s not something we can be supportive of right now.”

US Vice President JD Vance similarly called the move a “very stupid political stunt.”

This development comes following the signing of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that went into effect on October 10, with both sides repeatedly accusing each other of violating the agreement since.