The Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot (Francophone centrist) has said that he believes that recognition of a Palestinian state would be purely symbolic as long as there is no solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians on the ground. Mr Prévot’s comments followed the announcement by the French President Emmanuel Macron that France intends to formally recognise the Palestinian state before the end of the year.
Belgian government remains reluctant to recognise a Palestinian state: ‘A symbolic recognition makes little sense”
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During question time in the Federal Parliament on Thursday afternoon both Mr Prévot and the Federal Prime Minister Bart De Wever were questioned about Belgium’s intentions with regard to the recognition of a Palestinian state.
The conflict in the Middle East remains a sensitive issue for the federal coalition government. The two largest coalition parties, the Flemish nationalist N-VA and the Francophone Liberal MR, have a more pro-Israel stance, while the other three coalition parties (Francophone centrists, Flemish socialists and Flemish Christian democrats) are more open to the concerns of the Palestinians.
In what was a quote taken from the federal coalition agreement, Prime Minister Bart De Wever told parliament that “We want the European Union to play a central role in achieving a two-state solution that guarantees both the security of Israel and the recognition of Palestine”.
However, he also stressed that the recognition of a Palestinian state could only take place once an agreement had been reached on a two-state solution and on the borders of both states.
The Belgian Foreign Minister Prévot was even clearer. He told parliament that “A purely symbolic recognition of a Palestinian state makes little sense if it leads to further issues on the ground.”
So, Belgium is open to the recognition of a Palestinian state, but only if the conditions it deemsd necessary are met.