Lahbib said Belgium has decided to withdraw from a group of like-minded EU countries on the recognition of Palestine. In concrete terms, Lahbib pointed to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who is said to have made that decision during the last European Council.
The fact that Spain had started to express itself more forcefully on the Palestinian issue in recent months and pushed for a common European position during the EU summit did not benefit the dynamics in the group, Lahbib explained, and so everyone pulled except Ireland and Slovenia withdrew from the clique.
Lahbib’s statements were qualified later in the day to ‘Belgium has decided not to participate in a meeting’ of the countries involved, but in the meantime the impression was created that Belgium was distancing itself from the Spanish position. And while our country has also played a pioneering role in the debate in recent months, and De Croo together with the Spanish Prime Minister in December Pedro Sanchez went to Israel to push for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Surprise within majority
The majority reacted with surprise on Tuesday. “Just at the moment when Israel is bombing hospitals in Gaza and mass graves are being discovered there, the minister announces this. I really don’t understand that,” said Wouter De Vriendt (Green). “Her answer fuels the confusion. However, the recognition of Palestine is desperately needed in view of a two-state solution.”
“We do not agree with the withdrawal from the group of like-minded countries,” says Els Van Hoof (CD&V). “Belgium has a pioneering role and must continue to play it.”
PS faction leader Ahmed Laaouej Prime Minister Alexander De Croo asked about it on Wednesday on X. “Clarification is necessary,” he said. “We will not accept such a turnaround.”
The subject was also discussed at the core cabinet on Wednesday afternoon and the Prime Minister will provide clarification in Parliament today.
There is no agreement within the federal government on the issue: six of the seven parties are in favor of recognizing the Palestinian statebut for the MR this is not possible as long as there is no state structure.
