Turkish officials condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pledge to annex occupied West Bank settlements if he is re-elected, noting that the statement violates international law and destroys peace efforts in the Middle East.

In a Twitter message, Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın criticized Netanyahu for exploiting elections as a means to justify occupation.

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu also said Netanyahu is exploiting elections to garner more votes.

The spokesman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Ömer Çelik said Netanyahu's pledge violates United Nations Security Council resolutions and disregards international law.

"This pledge not only transgresses the law, but it also attempts to completely destroy it," Çelik said in a Twitter post.

"It is about time that the international community says stop to Netanyahu's madness," Çelik said, adding that the Israeli PM's stance is an open attack against the definition of the values that make up the international community.

Çelik noted that Netanyahu was encouraged by U.S. President Donald Trumptarget="_blank"'>