403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
Belgium Blasts EU's Israel Settlement Import Plan as Toothless
(MENAFN) Belgium sharply rebuked the European Union's response to goods imported from illegal Israeli settlements on Monday, with Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot dismissing the bloc's newest proposals as little more than window dressing.
Ahead of a gathering of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Prevot told reporters that Belgium has spent months pressing for real action over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict — and that the European Commission's latest move falls far short. He said the Commission had only just put forward a handful of options, contained in a brief two-page paper, leaving the impression of a symbolic gesture rather than a serious push forward. Prevot said Belgium wants firm proposals that member states can actually vote on and that could be fast-tracked to the Foreign Affairs Council.
The European Commission is reportedly weighing several tools to address the issue: tightening export licensing requirements for settlement-made goods, raising import tariffs to make such exports less attractive, and potentially imposing a partial or full import ban on settlement products.
Prevot backed using trade policy as the lever of choice, noting that such measures can pass via qualified majority voting — unlike sanctions, which demand unanimous approval from all EU member states, a far higher bar.
He also took aim at the bloc's broader paralysis on Israel policy, pointing to political, historical and economic factors that have repeatedly blocked stronger measures. Nearly every other issue moves forward, he said, but "when it comes to Israel, sanctions bring everything to a standstill," Prevot said. He added that he finds this frustrating, noting that in other conflicts, similar pressure and the Commission's available tools have proven capable of shifting behavior — and argued it's long past time the EU applied that same approach here.
Citing figures from Peace Now, an Israeli group that advocates for a two-state solution, roughly 500,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the occupied West Bank, with an additional 250,000 residing in settlements built on Palestinian land in occupied East Jerusalem — all considered illegal under international law.
The International Court of Justice, in an advisory opinion handed down last July, ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful and called for the full withdrawal of settlements from both the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Despite this, the 27-nation EU has yet to adopt any measures directly targeting Israel, which has continued military operations in Gaza since October 2023 even after a ceasefire took hold, while also striking Lebanon, Iran and Syria.
Ahead of a gathering of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Prevot told reporters that Belgium has spent months pressing for real action over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict — and that the European Commission's latest move falls far short. He said the Commission had only just put forward a handful of options, contained in a brief two-page paper, leaving the impression of a symbolic gesture rather than a serious push forward. Prevot said Belgium wants firm proposals that member states can actually vote on and that could be fast-tracked to the Foreign Affairs Council.
The European Commission is reportedly weighing several tools to address the issue: tightening export licensing requirements for settlement-made goods, raising import tariffs to make such exports less attractive, and potentially imposing a partial or full import ban on settlement products.
Prevot backed using trade policy as the lever of choice, noting that such measures can pass via qualified majority voting — unlike sanctions, which demand unanimous approval from all EU member states, a far higher bar.
He also took aim at the bloc's broader paralysis on Israel policy, pointing to political, historical and economic factors that have repeatedly blocked stronger measures. Nearly every other issue moves forward, he said, but "when it comes to Israel, sanctions bring everything to a standstill," Prevot said. He added that he finds this frustrating, noting that in other conflicts, similar pressure and the Commission's available tools have proven capable of shifting behavior — and argued it's long past time the EU applied that same approach here.
Citing figures from Peace Now, an Israeli group that advocates for a two-state solution, roughly 500,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the occupied West Bank, with an additional 250,000 residing in settlements built on Palestinian land in occupied East Jerusalem — all considered illegal under international law.
The International Court of Justice, in an advisory opinion handed down last July, ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful and called for the full withdrawal of settlements from both the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Despite this, the 27-nation EU has yet to adopt any measures directly targeting Israel, which has continued military operations in Gaza since October 2023 even after a ceasefire took hold, while also striking Lebanon, Iran and Syria.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any
responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos,
licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues
related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Comments
No comment