Belgium's Foreign Minister Warns of Crisis Over Israel-Palestine Stance; Pushes for Palestine Recognition
August 25, 2025
He underscores the necessity of finding a government consensus on the Gaza situation to avoid unilateral actions that could damage the country.
Prévot is particularly critical of Georges-Louis Bouchez and warns he might block measures related to Israel if his demands are not met.
Prévot emphasizes that Belgium should seize the opportunity to recognize Palestine, warning that failing to do so could harm the country's international image.
He insists that recognizing Palestine is crucial for Belgium's global reputation and that missing this chance could be detrimental.
Belgian Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot warns of a potential major crisis if the government does not adopt a firmer stance on human rights violations by Israel and the recognition of Palestine.
A government meeting, the 'kern', is scheduled for Wednesday where Prévot will present concrete proposals, including recognizing Palestine, banning travel for certain Israeli ministers, and restricting products and arms transit from occupied territories.
Prévot has threatened to block government initiatives if his partners, MR and N-VA, prevent a stronger position on Israel and Palestine recognition.
Prévot criticizes Georges-Louis Bouchez of the MR, suggesting that his attitude could damage Belgium's reputation.
Parties like Les Engagés, CD&V, and Vooruit oppose N-VA and MR on Gaza and related issues, highlighting internal disagreements within the coalition.
The opposition from MR and N-VA is seen as a threat to Belgium's international reputation, with some coalition members emphasizing the need for a united stance.
Prévot stresses the importance of resolving internal government disagreements to prevent individual actions from harming Belgium's reputation.
Prévot advocates for condemning Israeli human rights violations and recognizing Palestine, with support from Flemish parties, despite opposition from N-VA and MR.
Summary based on 4 sources
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VRT NWS • Aug 25, 2025
Foreign Minister Prévot threatens political crisis over Gaza | VRT NWS: news