Around ten days ago, the Council of State annulled the decree issued in May 2024 by former Walloon Minister-President Elio Di Rupo concerning the transit of arms to Israel through Walloon airports.
This decision responded to an appeal by the Israeli airline Challenge, based at Liège-Bierset Airport. The appeal cited the lack of a mandatory consultation with the Council of State’s legislative section.
The Council of State’s administrative litigation section confirmed this omission and noted the absence of a specific urgent justification for it.
According to a report by Le Soir, at least 70 tonnes of ammunition and explosives passed through Liège Airport from 7 October 2023 due to a loophole in the regional legislation on arms transit.
Challenge, led by Israeli Yossi Shoukroun, transported this military equipment from New York to Tel Aviv despite the Walloon Government’s renewed commitment in early February to cease granting transit or export licences to Israel.
Challenge exploited the "transit without transshipment" loophole, where if a plane made a brief stop at Liège Airport without offloading its cargo, no licence was needed.
Elio Di Rupo, as Walloon Minister-President, responded with a ministerial decree that banned all arms transit to Israel, whether involving transshipment or not.
