Belgium must recognize Palestine as a state as a solution to guarantee long-term peace between Israelis and Palestinians, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said in an interview with De Standaard on Sunday.
“We are in favor of a two-state solution, aren’t we? Well, for that, you need two states. Incidentally, recognition is not at all a reward for the horrific terror of Hamas. On the contrary, it’s about recognizing a state, not a government. And certainly not a terrorist group,” De Standaard quoted him as saying.
“Aren't we united with Europe in opposing what [Russian] President Vladimir Putin is doing? But that doesn't mean we believe Russia has no right to exist,” he added.
On Wednesday, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and his deputy prime ministers will convene to determine their position on the ongoing conflict, a topic that has become a major point of contention within the government.
The issue remains deeply sensitive, according to the foreign minister, with parties such as Prévot’s Les Engagés, Christian Democratic and Flemish, and Vooruit calling for a tougher stance against Israel and a formal recognition of Palestine. The New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) and the Reformist Movement (MR) remain firmly opposed to such moves.
Prévot has taken an active role in pushing Palestinian state recognition forward as deputy prime minister, signaling the urgency he attaches to the matter.
“These are legal obligations that compel us to recognize Palestine and impose sanctions against Israel,” Prévot said. “This is a matter of applying the law rationally. You can’t negotiate with the law; you can’t turn it into political currency.”
French-Arab initiative to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly
Prévot's stance aligns with Belgium’s coalition agreement, and he believes it is essential for the country to join the French-Arab initiative to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly, set to commence on September 22. He stressed the urgency of this move, stating that without action, Palestine could soon be "reduced to nothing."
“We have until September 5th to sign the Franco-Arab document, which is supported by the Arab League. This document paves the way to a two-state solution,” Prévot explained. “If we miss that boat, it will be detrimental to Belgium’s international image.”
Belgium’s reputation on the world stage has been a long-term achievement, but Prévot noted that the Foreign Ministry is concerned that this reputation is rapidly eroding due to the delay in recognizing a Palestinian state.
Prévot is pushing for more than just recognition. He and his colleagues are finalizing a memorandum that proposes concrete measures to address the humanitarian crisis and hold Israel accountable for its actions.
The measures include, among others, an entry ban for far Right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, and exploring ways to prevent products from “occupied territories” from entering Belgium.
“We must do more than recognize Palestine,” he stated. “That alone won’t stop the humanitarian crisis. We are working on a ban on the overflight and transit of weapons to Israel through Belgian airspace.”
As Prévot prepares to present his proposals on Wednesday, he believes that Belgium’s role in addressing the conflict must be decisive and constructive. While some parties within the government are still hesitant, Prévot urged unity, saying, “Moving forward on this issue isn’t a sign of weakness. On the contrary, we can gain international credibility this way. Every party benefits from that.”
Prévot also acknowledged the need for internal reflection within the MR, urging them to reaffirm their role as defenders of international law.
Prévot expressed optimism that a consensus could be reached within the government. “If the government doesn’t adopt a stricter tone regarding Israel’s human rights violations, a major crisis looms,” he warned. “Some parties are signaling that they welcome the opposition’s appeal for a rotating parliamentary majority. It's unacceptable for one party to insist that everyone must defend its issues at all costs, while ignoring what’s important,” he warned.