The Belgian government announced that in September, at the UN General Assembly, it will officially recognize the State of Palestine. This was stated by the country’s Foreign Minister, Maxim Prevot.
According to him, Belgium will join the ranks of the UK, France, Canada, and Australia with this decision. At the same time, a number of tough measures against Israel — “strict sanctions” — are expected. These include banning the import of products from Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the possibility of launching legal proceedings.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Embassy in Belgium have not yet responded. However, earlier, the Israeli Foreign Ministry described London’s plan to recognize Palestine as a “reward for Hamas.”
In July, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer outlined the conditions for such a decision:
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Israel must take practical steps to end the grave situation in Gaza;
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agree to a ceasefire;
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revive the possibility of a two-state solution;
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allow UN humanitarian aid;
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prevent new annexations in the West Bank.
The UN General Assembly will begin in New York on September 9. Ireland, Spain, and Norway have already recognized Palestine as a state. As of March 2024, 147 out of 193 UN member states officially recognized Palestine as a state.
Meanwhile, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a plan to build a new settlement in the West Bank, stressing that this step “will completely bury the idea of a Palestinian state.”
In addition, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled the visas of 81 representatives of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). This limits their ability to participate in the General Assembly.
It should be noted that under the 1947 UN agreement, the US must ensure the access of foreign diplomats to meetings in New York. However, Washington has the right to refuse visas citing security, extremism, or foreign policy reasons.
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