Belgium 'concerned' but undeterred on backlash over Israeli sanctions

Despite concerns of a backlash from Israel and the US, Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot told Euronews the country had no option but to commit to recognise Palestine given the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.  

"We have concerns, but frankly speaking it's quite difficult to refuse to act according to our legal obligation when we face the current situation in Gaza," Prévot told Euronews’ the Europe Conversation.  

Belgium announced on Monday it would join France and the UK in a commitment to recognising Palestine in New York later this month.  

The five-party coalition government also announced plans to discontinue imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank or provide consular services to Belgian citizens living in settlement housing in the occupied Palestinian Territory.  

In response, the office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted a statement accusing Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever of appeasing Hamas.  

The Israeli government argues countries which have recognised Palestine in the aftermath of Hamas' 7 October terrorist attack legitimise and reward terrorism.  

But Prévot defended the move as "courageous" and necessary. 

Yet the US has intervened against other countries which have acted against Israel in response to its ongoing military assault in Gaza. 

Norwegian sovereign wealth fund rapped

For instance, the US State Department on Thursday said it is "very troubled" by the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund’s decision to divest from building supplier Caterpillar over its ties to Israeli settlements.  

The fund stated that Caterpillar’s products are used to “to commit extensive and systematic violations of international humanitarian law”.  

But the State Department said the move "appears to be based on illegitimate claims against Caterpillar and the Israeli government.”    

"We are engaging directly with the Norwegian government on this matter," the State Department said.  

In addition, prominent US Senator Lyndsay Graham said the US would now "work on restricting visas for the wealth fund" as a direct consequence of the decision.  

Similarly, legislation to ban goods from occupied Palestinian territories – known as the Occupied Territories Bill is pending in Ireland.   

In reaction to the ongoing passage of the Bill, a group of US congressmen and women wrote to US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent asking him to consider adding Ireland to a list of countries which boycott Israel if the Occupied Territories Bill is enacted.  

If the process is complete, it could mean a range of penalties against US businesses engaged in investment in Ireland.  

"The Irish government is committed to the passage of the Occupied Territories Bill," a spokesperson for Irish Prime Minister, Micheal Martin, told Euronews when asked whether the country was worried about potential adverse impact on Irish business from the Bill. 

"I hope that the US will not take any kind of sanction against the countries which decided to act like this in order to respect international law, humanitarian law, and trying to push pressure on Israel," Prevot said when asked about the repercussions that might arise. 

 We are not targeting "the people of Israel, of course". We have "taken some strong commitments in order to fight against any antisemitism, for instance," he told Euronews. 

Last month French President Emmanuel Macron summoned US ambassador to France Charles Kushner for a diplomatic rebuke after Kushner alleged the French have not done enough to quell the rise of antisemitism. The accusations came in the form of a letter addressed to Macron following the French decision to recognise Palestine. 

"Public statements haranguing Israel and gestures toward recognition of a Palestinian state embolden extremists, fuel violence, and endanger Jewish life in France. In today’s world, anti-Zionism is antisemitism – plain and simple,” he wrote. 

“France firmly refutes these latest allegations,” a French ministry statement read afterwards. 

Euronews has reached out for a comment from the US State Department.

In a dramatic ramping up of tensions on Friday, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said the closure of the French consulate in Jerusalem is "on the table" of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. 

The spokesperson added that she "hopes" the site will be closed in response to France's intention to recognise the Palestinian state. "We did it with Norway, with Ireland, and we can consider doing it with others,"  she told Radio France International. 

Euronews has reached out for a comment from the US State Department.