Some members of Belgium’s Federal Parliament will return from their summer recess on Thursday afternoon for an emergency debate on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Despite the emergency debate in the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, it seems unlikely that Belgium’s stance towards Israel will change, as foreign policy decisions rest with the government and not with the Select Committee.
The Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist) is currently on holiday with his family in South Africa. Mr De Wever has not called a cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza, much to the frustration of 3 of the parties in the 5-party federal coalition. The Flemish socialists, the Flemish Christian democrats and the Francophone centrists have all urged the government to recognise Palestine, impose economic sanctions on Israel and introduce measures such as banning certain Israeli ministers from entering Belgium.
However, the two other coalition parties, the Flemish nationalists and the Francophone liberals, oppose taking swift action. They argue that conditions for the recognition of a Palestinian are currently not met and that sanctions would be ineffective without US backing.
Thursday afternoon’s debate in the Foreign Affairs Select Committee is likely to see the parties repeat their positions. The Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot (Francophone centrist) is expected to maintain the current government position despite his personal support for stronger measures.
A parliamentary resolution adopted in May outlines steps Belgium could take, but many have yet to be implemented. Some MPs want to use today’s session to push for progress ahead of next month’s meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, where France plans to formally recognise Palestine.