Brussels: Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Pr©vot told parliament that Belgium must quickly recognise the state of Palestine, warning that any delay could undermine the country's credibility regarding the two-state solution. "If Belgium does not make progress towards official recognition of Palestine in September, there will soon be nothing left to recognise," he said.
According to Emirates News Agency, Pr©vot stressed that recognition should not be seen as rewarding Hamas. "Recognition is a bonus for the Palestinian Authority, not for Hamas. It strengthens the peaceful struggle." Despite this assertion, there is currently no consensus within the governing coalition on rapid recognition.
The foreign minister noted that the government would meet in the coming weeks to discuss Belgium's position on Gaza, including the recognition of Palestine and the possibility of imposing sanctions on Israel.