The Belgian PM Alexander De Croo (Flemish liberal) has commented after the Belgian seven-party federal government yesterday decided not to join Norway, Ireland and Spain and recognise Palestine as an independent state.
Belgium fails to recognise Palestine: “Symbolism doesn’t sort anything” says PM De Croo
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"Symbolism solves nothing. I want to have an impact on the ground: a ceasefire and a release of all hostages" Mr De Croo told VRT.
The prime minister promised recognition would happen eventually: “It’s the only way to realise a two-state solution and bring peace. Our aim has always been to have an impact in the field, on people’s lives to ensure a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of all hostages. You need to employ recognition as a lever in this process starting from a military conflict and turning this into a political discussion. If you recognise now, then these are nice symbolic words, but you will not have had any impact in the field”.
“Our aim is to form a group of western nations that take a joint decision on recognition, but you need to convince major states like France, Germany and Italy. Then you will have an impact!”
“Recognition is a one-off opportunity. You have to use it with an impact. I first want to convince other countries, to have impact and bring peace and to stop the violence. I want to improve the lives of people in Gaza. As a nation we do not need to receive any lessons. As EU president we led other nations and I want to continue this role and convince other countries. We can end this conflict, but more EU nations must join us to ensure recognition is used as a lever”.
At yesterday’s meeting of the Belgian inner cabinet it was above all the Francophone liberals of MR that opposed immediate recognition of Palestine. MR says it does not want to give the fundamentalist Palestinian organisation Hamas more weapons. Francophone liberal lawmaker David Leisterh: “Recognition of Palestine is the direction history is heading in”.
“At present there is no government, no borders , no peace in the Middle East. Recognition must go hand in hand with freedoms for Palestinians and peace in the Middle East. If we recognise Palestina without a peace process it looks like we are giving Hamas an advantage”.