Belgian parliament calls for EU sanctions against Israel if it proceeds with West Bank annexation
The Belgian parliament has passed a non-binding resolution calling on the government to lead the way in implementing “counter-measures” against Israel if it goes ahead with its planned annexation of parts of the West Bank.
The resolution, passed on Friday morning with an overwhelming majority, urges the federal government to take steps to prevent the annexation of Palestinian territories. It says the Belgian government should “play a leading role” in drawing up a list of “effective countermeasures intended to respond proportionately” to Israel, if it proceeds with the plan.
The document also calls for Europe-wide punitive measures to potentially be taken against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. If there is no agreement on a response at the European level, however, Belgium should seek to form a “coalition between like-minded member states” to work out a common response, the resolution says.