The leader of the Socialist Party (PS), Paul Magnette, has called for Belgium to immediately recognise the State of Palestine, making his appeal in a letter addressed to party leaders across the nation.
He argues that recognising Palestine as a state is the cornerstone for any credible peace solution, rather than its eventual outcome. Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he insists, will only be possible with two independent and democratic states.
Magnette believes that refusing recognition would perpetuate the double standards many have decried, undermining Belgium’s credibility on issues such as Ukraine, human rights, and international law. Recognising Palestine, he states, affirms the principle that rights are non-negotiable and apply equally from Kyiv to Gaza, and Israel to Palestine.
The PS will soon propose a new resolution in Parliament to officially recognise Palestine, Magnette announces, urging both majority and opposition parties to support the initiative in a nonpartisan spirit as a “moral awakening.”
Georges-Louis Bouchez, the president of the MR party, previously commented that France’s move to recognise Palestine was merely symbolic and counterproductive, as it might exclude European countries from the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has mentioned plans to present a proposal to the government in September, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.
