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Belgium will also impose 12 ‘firm sanctions’ on Israel, including a ban on importing products from Judea and Samaria and a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies.
By Aaron S., Jewish Breaking News
Belgium became the latest Western nation to pledge Palestinian state recognition, joining the likes of France, Australia, Canada and the UK in a coordinated diplomatic push to pressure Israel over the war in Gaza.
Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said Tuesday his country will formally recognize Palestine during the UN session running September 9-23 in New York, calling it a “strong political and diplomatic gesture to preserve the chances of a two-state solution.”
“In light of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, and especially in Gaza, and in the face of the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law, Belgium had to take strong decisions to increase pressure on both the Israeli government and the terrorists of Hamas,” Prevot wrote on X.
Belgium will also impose 12 “firm sanctions” on Israel, including a ban on importing products from Judea and Samaria, a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies, and declaring Hamas leaders persona non grata.
However, Belgium isn’t offering unconditional recognition, establishing prerequisites that require all the hostages be freed and Hamas removed from power. Separately, Prevot emphasized that Belgium will expand efforts to combat antisemitism in partnership with local Jewish communities.
“This is not about sanctioning the Israeli people, but about ensuring respect for international and humanitarian law by its government and acting to help move the situation on the ground,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, European Union foreign ministers remained sharply divided during a meeting in Copenhagen on Saturday over the Gaza war, with countries including Ireland, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands calling for suspension of an EU free trade pact with Israel, while traditional allies such as Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic rejected such measures.
“We are divided about this issue,” EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas admitted following the meeting. “If you don’t have a unified voice… on this topic, we don’t have a voice on the global scene. So that’s definitely very problematic.”
The European Union is Israel’s biggest trading partner, with trade in goods between the two amounting to 42.6 billion euros ($49.9 billion) in 2024. Donate to vital charities that help protect Israeli citizens and inspire millions around the world to support Israel too! Now more than ever, Israel needs your help to fight and win the war -- including on the battlefield of public opinion. Antisemitism, anti-Israel bias and boycotts are out of control. Israel's enemies are inciting terror and violence against innocent Israelis and Jews around the world. Help us fight back!
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