A statement by Minister of Development Cooperation Caroline Gennez (Vooruit) causes a diplomatic row with Israel. Gennez said in an interview with ‘De Morgen’ that in the Palestinian territories Israel is “wiping entire villages off the map”. They don’t laugh at that in Israel. The Belgian ambassador was reprimanded.
The diplomatic incident is covered in several Israeli newspapers. In a interview with ‘De Morgen’ Caronline Gennez (Vooruit) told Monday about the focus of Belgian humanitarian NGOs in the coming years.
“In recent years, Europe has of course – rightly – paid a lot of attention to Ukraine, but there are many more people around the world who need help,” says Gennez. She cites the situation in the Palestinian territories as an example. There “the situation becomes untenable. Entire villages are being wiped off the map by the Israelis,” it sounds.
“Defamatory statements”
A statement that the Israeli government cannot laugh at. The Foreign Ministry summoned Jean-Luc Bodson, Belgium’s ambassador to Israel, on Thursday, reprimanded him and demanded that he clarify the ruling.
Israel’s ambassador to Belgium, Idit Rosenzweig-Abu, said on Twitter that he was “appalled by the defamatory statements”.
In response to the incident, Minister Gennez has already invited the Israeli ambassador to our country. “Belgium stands for a sustainable two-state solution in Israel-Palestine. When democracy and human rights come under pressure, anywhere in the world, we denounce it,” it sounds.
“Systematic destruction”
“2023 is already the deadliest year in a long time in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with casualties on both sides – but unfortunately also 34 children on the Palestinian side,” Gennez continued. “In recent months we have seen systematic destruction of infrastructure partly financed by international solidarity (schools, neighbourhoods, etc.). This drives entire communities in the West Bank from their villages. A normal life is de facto made impossible.”
“Difficult Conversation”
“We denounce this, also out of respect for the Belgian taxpayer and the efforts of the international community. We have invited the Israeli ambassador for a serious talk, which will take place on September 7. In the meantime, we have also put the point on the agenda of the EU Council for Development Cooperation, next week in Cadiz.”
More than 250 deaths this year
Since the beginning of this year, at least 218 Palestinians have been killed in violence in the context of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 28 Israelis, a Ukrainian woman and an Italian were also victims of the violence. On the Palestinian side, the victims are mainly combatants and civilians, including minors. The Israeli dead are primarily civilians, including minors here, and three members of the Arab minority.
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