As the world anticipates a preliminary verdict from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on South Africa\u2019s genocide case against Israel, leaders in the European Union remain divided on how to interpret the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shortly after the two-day hearing at the world\u2019s top court in the Hague earlier this month, where South Africa told the ICJ that Israel\u2019s actions in the Gaza strip violated the UN\u2019s 1948 Genocide Convention, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic \u2013 staunch allies of Israel \u2013 rejected these claims. Hungary condemned the case, while Berlin declared that it would intervene on Israel\u2019s behalf at the ICJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week, France, which is home to Europe\u2019s largest Muslim and Jewish minorities and has been in the headlines for banning pro-Palestine protests since October 7, chimed in, saying Paris also does not support the ICJ case against Israel. \u201cTo accuse the Jewish state of genocide is to cross a moral threshold,\u201d said French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other EU nations have remained silent on the court case. Slovenia is an exception, having announced its support for another ICJ case against Israel regarding Palestinian rights. And, among the bloc\u2019s more outspoken critics of Israel\u2019s military conduct in Palestine, Ireland has adopted a cautious stance. In Spain, the minority left-wing Sumar party in the coalition government backed South Africa\u2019s case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week, in Belgium, socialist politician Caroline Gennez, minister of development cooperation and urban policy, said the country would support to the ICJ\u2019s decision. \u201cIf the International Court of Justice calls on Israel to cease its military campaign in Gaza, our country will fully support it,\u201d she said in a social media post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At a news conference in Brussels recently, Ludivine Dedonder, defence minister, reiterated: \u201cToday, the Belgian government is speaking out in favour of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, and support for the ICJ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prevailing European view since October 7 has been that Israel has a right to self-defence against the Palestinian group Hamas, as long as it stays within the boundaries of international law. But as the latest escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict rages on, some Belgian leaders have been more openly critical of Israel\u2019s actions as the Palestinian death toll mounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Hamas attacked southern Israel in early October, killing 1,139 people, Israeli forces have bombarded Gaza, the densely populated Strip Hamas governs with a pre-war population of 2.2 million people. During air attacks and as part of its ground invasion, the Israeli army has killed more than 25,000 people, among them many women and children, and stands accused of widespread atrocities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In November, the Belgian government, a coalition of seven political parties, said 5 million euros ($5.4m) from the federal government will be used to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to investigate possible war crimes in Israel and Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brigitte Herremans, a postdoctoral researcher at the Human Rights Centre at the University of Gent in Belgium, told Al Jazeera the tiny European country traditionally adopts strong positions on international law with regard to the Middle East conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cObservers would say that it also has to do with Belgium\u2019s own history of being occupied historically by foreign powers,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During both world wars, Belgium was under German occupation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Herremans said that Belgium\u2019s stance today is similar to its previous positions on other foreign policy issues, such as the Iraq war. \u201cIn general, we always saw Belgium somehow stick to a position that the acquisition of territory by force wasn\u2019t accepted,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Marc Botenga, of Belgium\u2019s leftist Workers\u2019 Party and an EU lawmaker, said the government\u2019s support to the ICJ is still limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you look closely at their statement there is no active attitude to actually support the South African case against Israel. The government just says they will support whatever decision the ICJ takes, which is logical since all member states of the United Nations are supposed to support the institution\u2019s court,\u201d Bottenga told Al Jazeera. \u201cHowever we have to commend the Belgian public for this stance which other EU nations have not really taken.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Large protests in different Belgian cities have played a role in pressuring the government to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, Belgium has declared its participation in the EU Red Sea Mission against Yemen\u2019s Houthis, the Iran-linked group which says its recent attacks on ships linked to Israel or its allies are aimed at pressuring officials to stop the onslaught of Gaza. \u201cThat\u2019s not the kind of stance we want,\u201d Bottega said of Belgium\u2019s participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Herremans said that since Belgium currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union \u2013 a decision-making body in which ministers coordinate policies and adopt laws \u2013 his country is responsible for developing consensus. \u201cBelgium has to take into account the position of staunch pro-Israeli countries, so [it] might have to be more cautious and less vocal on international law. But it will not take a fundamentally different position from what it always has,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Historically, Belgium has shown solidarity towards Palestine while also supporting Israel. At the UN in 2012, it voted in favour of giving Palestine \u201cnon-member\u201d observer status. Last year, it supported a UN resolution ordering the ICJ to investigate the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But discussing the Israeli-Palestinian issue in the Parliament can be difficult, because of diverse views between political parties in the Flanders in the north, Wallonia in the south, and the Brussels region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some Belgian sources told Al Jazeera that of the seven coalition partners, the progressives \u2013 Greens and Social Democrats \u2013 believe concrete measures have to be taken to ensure international law is applied in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank with regard to the ICJ case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In recent months, the Flemish Liberal Party of Prime Minister De Croo and Flemish Christian-Democrats have also toughened their stance on the situation in Palestine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In November, the premier described Israel\u2019s campaign in Gaza as \u201cdisproportionate\u201d as he condemned the army\u2019s bombing of Gaza refugee camps. But the French-speaking Liberal Party, to which the foreign affairs minister belongs, has traditionally been pro-Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking ahead, Belgium heads to the polls in June, which could end up shifting the country\u2019s stance if a new government comes into power. Fourat Ben Chikha, vice president of the senate, the federal parliament\u2019s upper house, told Al Jazeera that even if the current coalition changes, as an international community, de-escalation and respect for human rights and international law should be every Belgian government\u2019s priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Willem Staes, senior Middle East adviser at 11.11.11, a Belgian international solidarity organisation which lobbies Belgian and European governments to uphold human rights, said that regardless of the Belgian government\u2019s composition, foreign policy has traditionally focused on fighting against impunity and promoting accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe current government is consequently applying this logic and leading the way at EU level. So providing support to the ICJ and the ICC, or calling for a permanent ceasefire, is not about being \u2018pro-Palestinian\u2019 or \u2018anti-Israel\u2019,\u201d Staes told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about common sense and choosing the only logical side, which is the side of international law. The fact that this is considered \u2018radical\u2019 by some tells you everything you need to know about the state of European politics.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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