A motion for resolution, initiated by Socialist MP Malik Ban Achour, urges the federal government “to formally recognize the State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel and to consider this recognition as a contribution by Belgium to the solution based on the coexistence of two democratic and independent states having the right to live in peace and security with mutually recognized, accepted and respected borders. ”

The resolution must now be considered in plenary session of the lower house of the parliament.

The possibility of the recognition by Belgium of a Palestinian state, mentioned regularly in news reports as an eventual counter-measure to protest an Israeli plan to annex parts of the West Bank,  came to the light this week with the adoption in the Belgian parliament’s foreign affairs committee of a motion for resolution calling on the government to make such a move.  

The motion was presented by the Socialist Party and co-signed by the Greens, French-speaking Christian-Democrats and the extreme-left. It was adopted by  a short majority of 8 votes against 7. The liberals, Flemish Christian Democrats, Flemish nationalist NV-A and the extreme right  Vlaams Belang opposed the motion but all their MPs were not present at the committee meeting.

This text, initiated by Socialist MP Malik Ban Achour,  urges the federal government “to formally recognize the State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel and to consider this recognition as a contribution by Belgium to the solution based on the coexistence of two democratic and independent states having the right to live in peace and security with mutually recognized, accepted and respected borders. ”

‘’The Israeli annexation plans are worrying. So we need to change our strategy and contribute to the two-state solution,” said Ben Achour.

The resolution must now be considered in the parliament’s plenary, probably in 15 days.

Sweden is the sole EU member state which recognized a ”State of Palestine” in 2014.

Other EU member states, such as Ireland, Spain and Luxembourg, are also considering the possibility of such a move if the annexation plan goes forward.