Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has stated that recognising Palestine would only be meaningful if certain conditions are met. He made the comments on Tuesday during a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.
De Wever travelled to Berlin to discuss German-Belgian cooperation and global geopolitical issues. The Israeli-Gaza conflict was also addressed, a topic that has deeply divided Belgium’s federal government. On Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Prévot threatened to “block important dossiers” unless the government adopts a tougher stance on Israel. Other coalition parties, including Vooruit and CD&V, have also signalled that the issue could lead to a government crisis. The federal cabinet is set to deliberate on the matter on Wednesday.
Prévot has called for sanctions and steps toward recognising Palestine. However, De Wever warned that such recognition would only be “necessary and useful” if several critical conditions are satisfied. These include the demilitarisation of Hamas, the release of hostages, and security guarantees for Israel. Otherwise, he cautioned, recognition would be “pointless and even counterproductive.” He confirmed that the issue will be discussed with his coalition partners on Wednesday.
“Everyone wants the war to end as quickly as possible, and it’s clear the Israeli government is making serious mistakes,” De Wever said. He emphasised the need to prioritise the supply and protection of civilians, urging coordinated action at the European level.
