The Belgian government announced that it will officially recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly later this month.
Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot stated that Belgium will join the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Australia in formally acknowledging Palestinian statehood.
In addition, Belgium plans to impose strong sanctions against the Israeli government, including a ban on imports from settlements in the West Bank and possible criminal prosecutions, according to Prevot.
Neither the Israeli Foreign Ministry nor the Belgian Embassy has commented on the announcement so far. However, Israel’s Foreign Ministry had previously criticized the United Kingdom’s similar plan, saying it “rewards Hamas.”
