Belgium will ban the import of goods from Israeli settlements
The Belgian government has approved a package of new measures, including a ban on the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories. The final details of the restrictions have not yet been disclosed. The decision was made amid growing criticism of Israel’s actions in the occupied territories and calls within the EU to impose additional sanctions.
The Belgian government has approved a new package of measures, including a ban on the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories. The initiative was first proposed late last summer amid a large-scale Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip. However, political disputes prevented a decision from being reached for a long time.
At this time, Belgian authorities have not specified which goods will be subject to the ban or which sectors of the economy it will affect. The decision was adopted on Saturday morning, before the start of the government’s summer recess. Belgium’s move comes amid a broader discussion within the European Union regarding possible restrictions against Israel due to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Earlier, a number of EU countries called for increased pressure and for sanctions to be considered in response to Israel’s actions. At the same time, it is currently unknown exactly when the new rules will take effect and how they will affect trade between Belgium and the relevant territories, according to Euractiv.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot stated that the European Commission is not responding firmly enough to imports of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. According to him, the EU’s current measures are insufficient.
