Belgium approves import ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlers
Egypt said the move supports international law and urged other European Union members to adopt similar restrictions on settlement goods.
- On Saturday, Belgium approved an import ban on goods from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, finalizing the measure during a cabinet session before the summer recess as part of a policy package addressing the war on Gaza.
- This decision follows Israel's advancement of plans for more than 1,000 new settlement units across the occupied West Bank, aligning Belgium with Spain, the Netherlands, and Ireland, which previously implemented similar restrictions.
- While the government approved the ban, officials acknowledged that settlement goods might still enter through third-party countries, and no specific implementation details have been made public regarding how the Belgian Parliament will enforce the restrictions.
- Following the announcement, MK Sharren Haskel criticized the move, stating, "Belgium has reached a point of no return," and asserted Israel would continue exporting products from Judea and Samaria to countries valuing innovation and technology.
- Egypt welcomed the decision on Sunday, urging other European Union member states to adopt similar measures, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited UN Security Council Resolution 2334 as a framework for ending settlement activity.
31 Articles
31 Articles
According to the Belgian government, Israel has long since passed the “stage of legitimate self-defense” with the military operations it began after the attacks of October 7, 2023.
Arab Parliament chief welcomes Belgium's settlement import ban, calls for wider action
Cairo, July 20 (SANA) Arab Parliament Speaker Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi welcomed Belgium‘s decision to ban imports of products originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling on other countries to adopt similar measures. In a statement posted on X on Sunday, Al Yamahi described the Belgian government’s decision as a victory for international law and a clear rejection of the legalization of Israeli settlem…
The Belgian federal government has approved a ban on the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The decision was taken during the government's last cabinet meeting before the summer recess, the Belgian news agency Belga reported on Saturday. With this, Belgium joins a small but rapidly growing group of European countries taking measures independently regarding an issue that remains unresolved at …
How Belgian Campaigners forced a de facto Arms Embargo on Israel
By Jo Dirix | – ( Open Democracy ) – In July 2025, four Belgian civil society organisations won a significant interim ruling against the Flemish government. The Brussels Court of First Instance ordered it to halt the transit to Israel of defence-related products and other goods suitable for military use unless there was firm assurance that they would be used exclusively for lawful civilian purposes. The case centred on tapered roller bearings be…
The Belgian Council of Ministers adopted a royal decree on Saturday 18 July prohibiting the importation of products from Israeli settlements, a unilateral decision taken by Brussels, as in recent months by other countries of the European Union, while the Twenty-Seventh are slow to adopt a common position on the subject.
Egypt Backs Belgium’s Decision to Ban Israeli Settlement Products
Egypt welcomed Belgium’s decision on Sunday, 19 July, to ban imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, calling on other European Union member states to adopt similar measures. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Belgium’s decision as an important step that supports international law and United Nations resolutions, particularly UN Security Council Reso…
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