Public sentiment regarding Belgium's recognition of Palestine is deeply polarized. While many express strong support and see the recognition as a necessary moral stance and a step toward justice for Palestinians, significant skepticism exists regarding the effectiveness of such a move, particularly due to the conditions attached to sanctions and criticisms aimed at perceived U.S. political biases. Detractors view the recognition largely as symbolic, failing to address the complex realities on the ground.

Belgium

United States

Israel

European Union

Important: Belgium will recognize after following conditions have been fullfilled:
All hostages will be released and Hamas is not in power in Gaza anymore

Audacimmus

So many people pretend they are for peace and a two state solution, until the two state solution is a reality, then suddenly it's not good.

TheDesertShark

I don’t know if it will have any practical effect on solving the conflict but Macron’s gamble seems to have paid off

UnMaxDeKEuros

Pan1cs180

Under what government? What borders?
Army yes no ?

Mean_Wear_742

As a Belgian citizen I am very angry this was not done before. Not sure what they were waiting for a couple more thousand’s deaths ? Let’s hope they don’t back down out of this one. Free Palestine 🇵🇸

XemenemsX

The only important thing is to stop Israel.

trollsmurf

Charles De Gaulle is definitely smiling from above at Macron’s decision to recognize Palestine . It definitely reflects Gaulle’s  concept of Politique  De Grandeur which is French for France not taking shit from anyone. It’s a bold brave  decision and a middle finger to America that France is able to dictate its own foreign policy.

combrade

ScureScar

Well, it's September now, where are all the countries that said they would do it now?

chadofchadistan

Why is Israel and many Jews so opposed to the recognition of a separate Palestinian state?
Are they afraid for the borders of their territory or something else?

Any-Original-6113

ConsciousExtent4162

[deleted]

Never heard of this Palestinianp state before.

Shadowblast56

Jaaa hoor zijn ze ons nog voor ook. Kut kabinet. Schoof lees je mee? Come on man, ouwe lapschwanz. Yesilgoz (puke emoticon) ff onder de duim

Kurpitsapizza

Great. Citizenship for everyone, no UNRWA anymore, responsibility to fight terror by itself, etc.

Stiller_Winter

Western_Contingent

Are y'all gonna come in and police Gaza so assholes don't shoot rockets at Israel?

Maybe come in and develop an economy for Gazans that doesn't have 50% unemployment?

What about stopping terrorists from digging up sewage and water pipes to turn them into rockets?

If the answer to all of the above is "No," all you've done is engaged in some performative nonsense that rewards Hamas and does nothing to improve the material conditions of Gazans. 

But you'll feel better about yourselves and that's what really matters, right?

nothing_in_dimona

Same-Acanthaceae-563

Belgium is a sovereign state therefore they can do this and as you pointed out other European countries are taking this action. The more this is prolonged the more this will happen. However this is essentially just posturing / political grandstanding and probably won’t lead too much. Maybe I’m just pessimistic but it is what it is.

Desperate-Degree832

Israel doesn't have a policy on Gaza. All Netanyahu wants is to keep the war going at any price and for any excuse/

beraleh

Yeah, ok, but so what? The state that they recognise has no borders and no government. It will not help the resolution of the problem in any way. Europeans like meaningless posturing. It the same with Ukraine. China and Iran have been quietly supporting Russia without making any grandiose speeches. The Europeans have been making grandiose speeches without many meaningful actions.

Reasonable-Notice439

Yes, Israel's policies are working.  
I think what we're seeing is the world lashing out once more against Judaic people. They simply won't die politely. They're effectively defending themselves and winning a war not of their own making. That seems to really piss off some people who then look for excuses to vilify Israel's self defense. 

The world needs an enemy, and that was the goal of hamas all along, to paint Israel as the enemy.

Inocent_bystander

Belgium is Israel's most important import and export partner in Europe, as approximately 12.5% ​​of Israel's economy relies on diamond trade. This is good news, noting that artificial diamonds have already reduced diamond prices by 80%. The latter may also be the reason why Belgium no longer wants to cover up Israel's crimes out of its own economic interest.

Top-Reaction-5492

As far I can know, it is intention of European sates such as France , Belgium and maybe others to recognize the National Palestinian authority as it has been estabilished by Oslo accords.

This has got two aims a) to booster the prestige of a weakened PNA among the people in Ramallah and the others Areas A within West Bank and thus to cut the grass under the feet of Hamas and Islamic Jihaad in the same areas

b) to limit what it is considered a dangerous shift towards estremism of Israeli politics, because estremism is estremism, both promoted by the pasdarans and promoted by Ben Gvir or other politicians. Israel has got a super army and nuclear weapons and it is interest of all the states in Europe that the finger on the red button does not belong to a crazy religious integtralist

Mysterious-House-381

If they’re going to recognize Palestine, fine, but state which borders and which leadership.

bkny88

It depends on what you mean.

I think its counterproductive to *my* vision / hope of Israel as a Liberal Democracy with human rights values. The idea of seizing land in The West Bank is anathema and specifically designed to prevent a Palestinian state from forming. It's criminal, and done by criminals.

Don't get my started on the blockade of aid to Gaza, ghoulish obscenity (though glad to see food aid literally *doubled* in the past month: I want it to stay or exceed that level every month.)

It's 'productive' if your goal is a slow-moving ethnic cleansing backed by collective punishment and horror. But, as someone who would prefer a positive peace, it's bad.

NormalGuyPosts

No,western countries policies are contraproductive to gazan lives,bc more support hamas has less chances for it to surrender

Future_Childhood1365

Majority of the listed countries do have demands and it was disbandment of Hamas and they can not join future government position. Its a loose loose situation for Hamas if you asked me.

hotdog_scratch

Israel managed to defeat Iran. Their longest standing enemy the Syrian Ba'ath (the proto-Ba'ath were one of the two movements that founded anti-Zionism) are gone.  Lebanon is now finally dealing with Hezbollah.  And for that matter you don't know if Hamas was defeated.  As for Iran the British released a report over the extended weekend the regime is in trouble and may fall. 

The recognitions don't really represent much of a change in policy.  The EU has been firmly committed to the Soviet Plan since the early 1970s.  What has shifted is mostly rhetoric.  Recognizing Palestine doesn't mean much, but it does help relieve the "do something" pressure they are facing. 

As for changing image it has gone well beyond young people.  The shifts are substantial.  I've made the comparison to Japan in the early 1930s.  Israel is now seen in the West among a meaningful percentage as a major abuser of human rights, a threat to world peace and an aggressive expansionist power.  They lost the PR war.  I think changing course at this point would mean a major shift towards a more humanitarian posture which would put them at odds with Europe.  Israelis are going to have to decide over the next decade to the move from Japan in the early 1930s to Japan in the late 1930s or do they do a dramatic shift.  OTOH without the threat from Iran a dramatic shift may be a lot easier.  So IMHO very hard to tell.

JeffB1517

What Israel is doing is counter-productive but the recognition from all of these irrelevant states is also counter-productive, because:

1. They have little to no political/economical influence on the issue.

2. It is now actively pushing government officials into building more settlements, talks about annexation, etc.

If the US recognized a Palestinian state, this would be huge because the US actually has influence on this issue. Belgium has no influence, it could disappear from the world and the I/P conflict will remain the same. This is as effective as Lithuania condemning China for doing surveillance on their citizens.

Tal-Carmi

I tend to see things separately. Gaza is Gaza. West Bank is West Bank. There is no one policy, the situation is different between Gaza and West Bank. As for Gaza, it is war with Hamas. The policy is war. There are announced war objectives, announced war strategies which changes from time to time, throughout the war. New Defense ministers, new Generals, new military operation etc...

I think regardless if it is counterproductive or not, with regards to Gaza, Israel will do what is needed to win the war. Other matters including what others may think is not a determining factor.

Having said that there is room for improvement, Israel could have done things better or differently while pursuing the same objective. Doing things more tactfully, explaining things/ communicating better etc...I also see some signs that Israel is changing. Israel's war policy in Gaza today is not the same as Israel's war policy in Gaza on Oct 8th, 2023. Israel is adapting, figuring out what works and what doesnt work. Some changes are easier to be made than others.

BleuPrince

Europe already showed their true colors when they recognized the Syrian regime despite its atrocities. Now they recognize a terrorist group like Hamas as a ‘state’? Just wait, soon they’ll probably call Al-Shabaab or Al-Qaeda ‘resistance’ too

Masterofcommander90

whoop de do, what does this do for the palies except make them feel good?

Fit-Channel-5712

I think it's extremely counterproductive. Even if they succeed in expelling the Palestinians, they would've been way better off just continuing to live next to them for the next XX years (just not having insanely [incompetent](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67082047) security). 

Israel is a country that thrives on international support. The consequences of all this have not been that bad yet, as recognition of Palestinian statehood doesn't actually do anything real like BDS would. But global public opinion has shifted against Israel and it's only a matter of time before new leaders are elected that reflect that. The economic consequences alone will undoubtedly change the quality of life in Israel for the worse.

Agreeable_Buffalo_96

Why would Belgium recognize a Palestinian state considering that the government of said state is an admitted barbaric jihadist terrorist group? 

Had there been Belgian people at the Nova festival Hamas would have sprayed bullets into their backs as they were fleeing. 

They also would have axed a couple of their heads off. 

Again, can anyone explain why Belgium would recognize this government?

UnitDifferent3765

All of that is because Israel as a governement and all the Jewish associations haven't worked unitely and with a focused communication message and all of the type of coordination needed to fight the cognitive warfare. 

None of that is because of the action taken during the war.

Decent_Web4051

It was never going to work for very long. Their aggressive stance towards the Palestinians was excused and minimised by world powers out of guilt for allowing the atrocities of the Holocaust. But that guilt is wavering and unless Israel shifts it's policy substantially, they will be seen as a pariah state without a way back which would be a great shame.

Different-Avocado-67

It’s not collective punishment but collective consequences. As for your question, no. Recognizing a Palestinian state and thus rewarding terrorism is absolutely counterproductive though.

CreativeRealmsMC

In this conflict its really important to distinguish what is said for the domestic audience and the actual behaviour of a country.

The West (collectively speaking) are under pressure domestically to act in the Palestine/Israel conflict.

Israel was given an implicit "green light" to go to war with Hamas after the October attacks. But that green light was only ever going to stretch as far as their domestic audience would allow it.

Geopolitically the West, and the US in particular, know that the Iranian influence that has gripped the region is weakening. Iran was always a counter weight to US soft power in the region. Israel and its actions have been absolutely key to eroding the Iranian grip and expanding US soft power.

That is why on one level you see the West "punishing" Israel by threatening to recognise a token Palestinian state, but on the other fully endorse Israeli military action in the region. The West could really put the pressure on Israel if they wanted to, but, its in their best interests to keep Israel going and Israel knows this full well.

Two_Pickachu_One_Cup

"The recognition of Palestine would only be formalized if Hamas releases all remaining Israeli hostages kidnapped in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack and the militant group “no longer has any role in managing Palestine,” Prévot said."

Canada had the same conditions. Pro palestinian groups called it "colonial imperialist meddling in Palestinian affairs". A new "Sykes-Picot", etc etc. Im sure Belgium will get the same amount of love...

maximus_danus

&gt;Belgium will join the group of countries that will recognize the state of Palestine at this month’s U.N. General Assembly and will impose sanctions on Israel over the war in Gaza, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announced overnight.

&gt;The recognition of Palestine would only be formalized if Hamas releases all remaining Israeli hostages kidnapped in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack and the militant group “no longer has any role in managing Palestine,” Prévot said.

My personal take? These European nations are doing more for the Palestine cause than any western pro Palestinian group. They actually require Hamas to have no role in the future of Palestine, something no western group has demanded

Firecracker048

It is interesting how countries like spain and france have announced or already enacted an unconditional recognition of palestine, while belgium demands that Hamas has no role in managing Palestine

  
France and Spain are powerful european states, and have taken a much bolder anti israeli stance, one that, while recognizing the PA as the goverment of palestine, doesnt wait for conditions to change to change recognition, meanwhile Belgium is a small country that has significantly less leverage than the other two heavyweights, and has a very pro palestinian anti israeli population, and yet has not managed to take a punitive enough stance

  
The case of portugal and belgium is honestly surprising, as usually it is the big influential countries like spain the ones that tend to hesitate more as their attitudes do change the international position, and yet in western europe it is the small countries the ones that hesitate the most

ale_93113

Israel should recognize Flanders and Wallonia, and support their citizens' will to join The Netherlands and France.

KingMob9

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The issue isn’t recognition of Palestine, but the terms on which that happens. The Palestinians have themselves resisted calling for a true state because they have two or three claims which conflict with the existence of a recognized country, meaning Israel. One is they insist on total control of Jerusalem, while the other is their claim to own most of the land inside Israel (plus damages for use) under their claimed right of return. The Palestinian goal is to be recognized with those claims, not to be recognized as a state consisting of Gaza and the West Bank, with some rights to a shared Jerusalem as a dual seat of government.

I almost forgot: third would be Israel withdraws to the 1967 ceasefire green line without any conditions on the Palestinians. When a peace deal was closest in the late 90’s, Israel retained defensive corridors and there were agreements about weapons, etc. 

The Palestinian position is always that Israel cannot exist. They like to say Israel prevents them from exercising their right to self-determination without saying their claimed right means they own Israel and the Israelis have no rights.

jokumi

&gt;Czechia remains one of the few EU countries firmly opposed to recognizing Palestine unless both sides recognize each other. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (Spolu) says recognition now would reward Hamas and harm prospects for dialogue.


I haven’t looked at all of these but i imagine this is the opinion of all of these countries that don’t recognise it yet. 

Good.

Deep_Head4645

Does this mean they will stop funding UNWRA? /s

bb5e8307

I mean North Korea is recognized by a bunch of countries and well....it's North Korea 🤣.  I guess I'm meh about this whole thing and don't think much will change in the lives of the people in Gaza.  The only way for life to change in Gaza is to do this one simple trick of NOT DOING TERRORISTY THINGS.

inbetween-genders

Bastards. We are about to repeat history. Those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it. Another era resembling that of **Arthur Neville Chamberlain**

Slske

They can recognize "Plasteline" twice a day, it won't change a thing in real life.

CougarChaserBC

Croatia will not recognize Palestine, our government said so and it stands with Israel. Recognition is in government jurisdiction. Unfortunately our President has weird viewpoints, he's also been overly fond of ruzzia, but the government, Prime Minister and majority of people stand with Israel. Am yisrael chai

BriefSea4804

NZ is still in the consideration stage

&gt; “Cabinet will take a formal decision in September over whether New Zealand should recognise a state of Palestine at this juncture – and if so, when and how.

Beautiful_Bag6707

Great. So many more countries to stop spending my tourist $$$$!!!

Am Yisrael Chai 🇮🇱

rich-nyc

evenforyou

"Recognize a Palestinian state", saying recognize "Palestine" is saying there is one. There is no country called Palestine.

Eta: this is not an accurate list. A number of these countries have spoken up already.

DefNotBradMarchand

For the record, Belgium has not yet decided to recognize a Palestinian state - conditional or not. It has been decided that they will decide before the UN GA. 

A major right wing government party is opposed to it while the leftist useful idiots in the government want it. It will be a spectacle.

Glassedowl87

The hardline proPalestinian activists in Australia seem furious and are saying this isn’t what they wanted.

assatumcaulfield

To a large degree, this move is more of a castigation of Israel than support of the Palestinians. It's not a coincidence that the ball started rolling mostly after that idiotic annexation vote.

eyl569

InternationalBear

layland_lyle

Can anyone clarify what exactly they are proposing/ planning to recognize as "Palestine" - the actual physical "on the ground" location? Borders? Do they even know themselves?

plsbquik

These countries forget that the civilians in this Palestinian State of Gaza  cheered the rapes, the tortures, the killings and the kidnappings of Israeli citizens.

https://preview.redd.it/3uzt09620gif1.jpeg?width=1125&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=1dbf2f9c7d38b73e5ec4bdd9db6469980a086501

mynameisnotsparta

You know who else doesn't want a Paletinian state? The Palestinian Authority and Hamas. They've been rejecting it since 2001, when it first offered to them by PM at the time, Ehud Barak. Sad.

BatZzZz

This is why we have to annex everything before The World(tm) recognizes Palestine out from under us. Facts on the ground beat words from far away.

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Wonderful. Hopefully this is the first crack in the dam

BippidyDooDah

_**slowly**_ but surely learning their lesson since the ol' _Heart of Darkness_ years i see

better late than never ig. bout gdt _**someone**_ in the global north raised a single hesitant finger on this

HomeboundArrow

Unfortunately this is just a partial ban on some products from the illegal settlements. And those bans have been very easily circumvented for years. It's a completely meaningless gesture.

cobrakai11

4peaks2spheres

Hello, Im German.

Germany still said it wont recognise Palestine as a State and still continue too make, deliver and fund weapons for Israel.

Note many European allies and Neigbours have said they recognise Palestine as a State.

MustafiArabi

From the article, first paragraph under the title.

"Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said the recognition would happen only after Hamas releases all Israeli hostages and no longer manages Palestine."

Sanctions aimed at Ben Gvir and Smotritch along with other settelers living illegally in the west bank and companies associated with the settlements.

Space_Away1

Social_Control

Headline is misleading. Belgium will ONLY recognize Palestine if _all_ the hostages are freed and Hamas surrenders, so, no, they will not recognize Palestine. 

Why is the media so bad at their job, and why are people so dumb to believe the bs they feed us? Like if they tell us its raining, all we have to do is look outside.

Magnolia120

Accomplished_Bill_33

TrinityCodex

Multispoilers

Kitchen-Employee7531

Ah, Belgium, a country that made a fortune off slavery and tyrannical rule of it's colonies in Africa. If they can turn it around, maybe there's hope for the Israeli's yet.

Beneficial-Alarm-781

Ironically this means that Israel needs to keep Hamas in power.

CloutYogurt

Looks like the strategy of exporting millions of Islamic migrants to Europe is working. Democracy has fallen and we are subject to the whims of genocidal religious autocrats

Hour_Rest7773

Belgium has announced plans to formally recognize the State of Palestine, which will be addressed at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.

Belgium Recognises Palestinian State

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