Belgium Unable to Consensus on Recognizing Palestinian State

Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Belgium’s key ministers couldn’t agree on recognizing Palestine as a state. Despite pressure from the socialist and green parties, liberals resisted. Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib seeks a unified EU stance.

Belgium’s key ministers failed to decide on the recognition of the Palestinian state. After Spain, Ireland and Norway exhibited they would recognise Palestine as a state, Belgium’s socialists (PS and Vooruit), Greens (Groen and Ecolo) and Christian-Democrats CD&V stepped up the force for the Federal Government to do the same.

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, the Deputy Prime Ministers and Federal Development Minister Caroline Gennez (Vooruit) gathered to regard the dossier, but no agreement was achieved by the time the meeting ended.

Did Belgium’s Key Ministers Agree on Recognizing Palestine?

“In line with what the core cabinet approved on 19 April, the Federal Government continues to work on the context and framework for a likely recognition of the Palestinian state,” De Croo told Media. 

“I regret that some do not have the guts to do what needs to be done: recognise the state of Palestine,” stated Gennez. “Besides a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and increased humanitarian access, the two-state solution is the only path to peace and security.”

This was Belgium‘s current Federal Government’s “last chance” before the elections on 9 June to endorse recognition, she emphasised. The recognition of Palestine “in a timely manner” was part of the present coalition government agreement from 2020.

“Other countries are showing us how to do it,” Gennez persisted. “We must be at the forefront of the fight against extremism and I will always continue to fight for the rights of innocent victims.”

Deputy Prime Minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne (PS) consented with Gennez, saying that words of support are no longer adequate. “Given the disproportionate retaliation by the Israeli Government and the successive failures of all ceasefire attempts, we are today obliged to act more decisively.”

What Are the Liberal Parties’ Stances on Palestinian Recognition?

The liberal parties are declining to take this step, particularly the Francophone MR, he stressed. Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter (Groen) also indicated to the liberals as the reason for the lack of decision, calling the fact that the Federal Government cannot unanimously agree to recognise the Palestinian state “incomprehensible.”

“The liberals refuse recognition, while that is the basis for peace and security. You do not play political games with human lives,” she stated.

Is Belgium Considering a Different Approach to Palestinian Recognition?

Meanwhile, Belgium’s Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib (MR) admitted that Spain, Ireland and Norway had made an “important effort ” but added that she wants to go beyond “a symbolic recognition” and restated that it is now important to seize the point to get European countries’ positions in the same direction. In any case, all EU Member States approve that there can be no return to the situation before the Hamas attack on 7 October.

The Israeli human rights organisation Peace Now – which has been functioning for peace between Israel and Palestine since the late 1970s – was published on social media in response to the recognition of Palestinian statehood by Ireland, Norway and Spain. “It is time to recognise that a Palestinian state is inevitable and that Israel is better off initiating the process than being dragged into it.”

For Peace Now, only a two-state solution as component of a comprehensive regional initiative would represent security, the return of hostages, a normalisation of the connection between Israel and Saudi Arabia and a stop to Israel’s international isolation. “We must end the war and say yes to a two-state solution. That is the real victory.