In a move that will certainly draw Israel’s ire, Belgium has joined a rising wave of countries moving to formally recognise the State of Palestine.
Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prevot has announced that Belgium will recognise the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this month. “Palestine will be recognised by Belgium at the UN session!” Prevot, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, wrote on the social media platform X.
The Foreign Minister also said that recognition would only be formalised once the last captive has been released from Gaza and “Hamas no longer has any role in managing Palestine.”
This is a calculated act. By tying recognition to the release of hostages from Gaza and the exclusion of Hamas from Palestinian governance, Belgium positions itself as both pragmatic and principled: supportive of Palestinian statehood, but unwilling to ignore the brutal realities that complicate it.
Belgian Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, from the Flemish nationalist party, said last month that recognising Palestine should be linked to strict conditions, according to a Belgian news agency.
With this move, Belgium joins France and a number of countries. At the end of July, President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would recognise Palestinian statehood when world leaders meet for the UNGA. Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom have also said they plan to recognise Palestine this month, also with conditions.
France and Saudi Arabia will co-host the meeting on Palestinian recognition during the UN General Assembly on September 22, 2925.
“Belgium will recognise Palestine during the joint initiative of France and Saudi Arabia! A strong political and diplomatic gesture to preserve the chances of a two-state solution.”
Maxime Prevot
As of April this year, some 147 countries, representing 75 percent of UN members, had already recognised Palestinian statehood.
Israel and the United States have strongly criticised countries moving to recognise Palestine, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing France’s announcement as a “reckless decision” that “only serves Hamas propaganda.”
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, warned last year that a new illegal Israeli settlement would be established in the occupied West Bank for every country that recognises Palestine.
Belgium’s recognition of Palestine will not change realities on the ground overnight. Nonetheless, it joins other countries to make a shot across the bow of diplomatic inertia.
Belgium To Impose Sanctions On Israel
Prevot, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, wrote in his the social media post that “firm sanctions will be imposed against the Israeli government.”
Israel will face 12 sanctions from Belgium, Prevot said, including a ban on the import of products from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and “a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies.”
“Belgium had to take strong decisions to increase pressure on the Israeli government.
“This is not about sanctioning the Israeli people but about ensuring that their government respects international and humanitarian law and taking action to try to change the situation on the ground.”
Maxine Prevot
The sanctions will include a ban on importing products from the settlements, a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies and restrictions on consular assistance to Belgian nationals residing in the illegal settlements.
They will also include potential judicial prosecutions, bans on overflights and transit, the designation of two extremist Israeli Ministers, Hamas leaders and several violent settlers as “persona non-grata” in Belgium.
Prevot also announced that Belgium will move to support measures at the EU level to suspend cooperation with Israel, including the suspension of the bloc’s association agreement with Israel, research programs and technical cooperation.
The Belgian Foreign Minister stressed that the measures are designed to hold the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accountable for its actions amid its gruelling 22-month offensive on Gaza.
Moreover, Prevot stressed that the steps were meant to uphold international law, not punish Israeli citizens, stating, “Any antisemitism or glorification of terrorism by Hamas supporters will also be more strongly condemned.”
Prevot said that Belgium would make a “firm commitment” to calling for European measures targeting Hamas and supporting new Belgian initiatives to combat antisemitism, further mobilizing all of its security services and involving representatives of Jewish communities.
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