Belgium 'concerned' but undeterred on backlash over Israeli sanctions

Despite concerns of a backlash from Israel and nan US, Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot told Euronews nan state had nary action but to perpetrate to recognise Palestine fixed nan humanitarian situation successful Gaza.  

"We person concerns, but frankly speaking it's rather difficult to garbage to enactment according to our ineligible responsibility erstwhile we look nan existent business successful Gaza," Prévot told Euronews’ nan Europe Conversation.  

Belgium announced connected Monday it would subordinate France and nan UK successful a committedness to recognising Palestine successful New York later this month.  

The five-party conjugation authorities besides announced plans to discontinue imports of equipment from Israeli settlements successful nan West Bank aliases supply consular services to Belgian citizens surviving successful colony lodging successful nan occupied Palestinian Territory.  

In response, nan agency of nan Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted a connection accusing Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever of appeasing Hamas.  

The Israeli authorities argues countries which person recognised Palestine successful nan aftermath of Hamas' 7 October violent onslaught legitimise and reward terrorism.  

But Prévot defended nan move arsenic "courageous" and necessary. 

Yet nan US has intervened against different countries which person acted against Israel successful consequence to its ongoing subject battle successful Gaza. 

Norwegian sovereign wealthiness money rapped

For instance, nan US State Department connected Thursday said it is "very troubled" by nan Norwegian sovereign wealthiness fund’s determination to divest from building supplier Caterpillar complete its ties to Israeli settlements.  

The money stated that Caterpillar’s products are utilized to “to perpetrate extended and systematic violations of world humanitarian law”.  

But nan State Department said nan move "appears to beryllium based connected illegitimate claims against Caterpillar and nan Israeli government.”    

"We are engaging straight pinch nan Norwegian authorities connected this matter," nan State Department said.  

In addition, salient US Senator Lyndsay Graham said nan US would now "work connected restricting visas for nan wealthiness fund" arsenic a nonstop consequence of nan decision.  

Similarly, authorities to prohibition equipment from occupied Palestinian territories – known arsenic nan Occupied Territories Bill is pending successful Ireland.   

In guidance to nan ongoing transition of nan Bill, a group of US congressmen and women wrote to US Secretary of nan Treasury Scott Bessent asking him to see adding Ireland to a database of countries which boycott Israel if nan Occupied Territories Bill is enacted.  

If nan process is complete, it could mean a scope of penalties against US businesses engaged successful finance successful Ireland.  

"The Irish authorities is committed to nan transition of nan Occupied Territories Bill," a spokesperson for Irish Prime Minister, Micheal Martin, told Euronews erstwhile asked whether nan state was worried astir imaginable adverse effect connected Irish business from nan Bill. 

"I dream that nan US will not return immoderate benignant of punishment against nan countries which decided to enactment for illustration this successful bid to respect world law, humanitarian law, and trying to push unit connected Israel," Prevot said erstwhile asked astir nan repercussions that mightiness arise. 

 We are not targeting "the group of Israel, of course". We person "taken immoderate beardown commitments successful bid to conflict against immoderate antisemitism, for instance," he told Euronews. 

Last period French President Emmanuel Macron summoned US ambassador to France Charles Kushner for a negotiated rebuke aft Kushner alleged nan French person not done capable to quell nan emergence of antisemitism. The accusations came successful nan shape of a missive addressed to Macron pursuing nan French determination to recognise Palestine. 

"Public statements haranguing Israel and gestures toward nickname of a Palestinian authorities embolden extremists, substance violence, and endanger Jewish life successful France. In today’s world, anti-Zionism is antisemitism – plain and simple,” he wrote. 

“France firmly refutes these latest allegations,” a French ministry connection publication afterwards. 

Euronews has reached retired for a remark from nan US State Department.

In a melodramatic ramping up of tensions connected Friday, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said nan closure of nan French consulate successful Jerusalem is "on nan table" of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. 

The spokesperson added that she "hopes" the tract will beryllium closed successful consequence to France's volition to recognise nan Palestinian state. "We did it pinch Norway, pinch Ireland, and we tin see doing it pinch others,"  she told Radio France International. 

Euronews has reached retired for a remark from nan US State Department.