Belgium: We Will Recognize the State of Palestine and Punish Israel

SadaNews - Belgian Foreign Minister Maxim Prevot announced today, Tuesday, that his country will recognize the State of Palestine in New York this month and will impose "strict sanctions" on Israel.

Prevot wrote in a post on the X platform that "Belgium will recognize the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly meetings, and there will be strict sanctions on the Israeli government."

At the end of last July, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country would recognize the State of Palestine during the General Assembly meetings to be held from September 9 to 23 of this month, after which more than 12 Western countries announced that they would follow France's lead, most notably Australia, Britain, and Canada.

Other countries signed what is called the "New York Declaration," including Andorra, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, and Spain.

Prevot stated that Belgium will join the signatories of the declaration, paving the way for a two-state solution.

He added that this decision comes "in light of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, and in response to Israel's violation of international law."

He affirmed that Belgium will also impose 12 "strict" penalties on Israel, such as banning imports from its settlements and reviewing public procurement policies with Israeli companies.

The highest court in the United Nations ruled last year that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories - including the occupied West Bank and its settlements - is illegal and must be withdrawn from as soon as possible.