Ramallah: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed the Belgian government's decision to ban the import of products originating from illegal Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Belgian Federal Council of Ministers adopted this decision as a progressive step in line with international law. In a statement issued Sunday evening, the Ministry asserted that this decision reflects the commitment of the Kingdom of Belgium and its government to the principles of international justice and respect for international law.
The Ministry highlighted that the move aligns with the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion, which found Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, to be unlawful. The advisory opinion affirmed states' obligations not to recognize the illegal situation or provide aid or assistance that helps sustain it. The ministry emphasized that these obligations extend to all commercial, economic, financial, investment, and service-related activities linked to illegal settlements.
Furthermore, the Ministry emphasized that this decision affirms that respect for international law is not merely political rhetoric or a theoretical commitment, but a legal obligation that necessitates practical measures, legislation, and policies. These measures ensure that no one contributes, directly or indirectly, to supporting or enabling the continuation of the occupation and colonization system.
The Ministry also expressed its interest in the ongoing discussions within the European Union and is working with member states to adopt similar measures to ban trade with Israeli settlements. It welcomed the growing European support for these legal measures, considering them a practical implementation of the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion and a necessary step to ensure that the colonial settlement enterprise does not continue to benefit from trade relations with other countries.
Finally, the Ministry called on all countries, parliaments, and legislators worldwide to follow Belgium's example by enacting similar legislation and adopting similar measures. These measures include banning the import of settlement products, preventing investment in settlements, halting services, and severing ties with companies and institutions involved in settlement activity. The Ministry also called for imposing sanctions on colonists and their organizations, as well as on entities, individuals, and organizations that support settlement activity, to contribute to ending the Israeli occupation and its colonial policies, thereby enhancing the prospects for peace and stability in the region.