Israel is now also officially an apartheid state

July 19, 2024 was a historic day. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israeli policies in the West Bank as apartheid. This ruling has far-reaching implications and is seen as an important step in recognizing the long-standing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people.

The ICJ ruling comes at a time of unprecedented settlement expansion in the West Bank. The Israeli government recently announced the construction of five new settlements in retaliation for European countries recognizing Palestinian statehood. These actions have led to further tensions and escalation in the region. 

Now that the ICJ has declared the Israeli occupation illegal and apartheid, the ball is in the court of the international communityIt is up to UN member states, including Belgium, to implement appropriate sanctions, such as a comprehensive arms embargo and a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.  

At the Belgian level, a ban on trade with illegal settlements must also be imposed immediately. Earlier this year, the UN Human Rights Council, with the support of Belgium, adopted a resolution calling for an end to the import of products from settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. A bill for a ban on trade with these areas has been ready in the Belgian federal parliament since November 2023. An ad hoc majority seems within reach to approve this proposal. We call for the bill to be approved immediately as soon as parliament starts its work. 

In addition to national measures, the Belgian government must also continue to advocate at European level for sanctions against violent settlers and those responsible for settlement policy, such as the Israeli ministers Smotrich en Ben GvirBelgium has already played a leading role in the decision to use the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against violent settlers, but now it is time to go further and also target extremist decision-makers.

Because the ICJ ruling provides a clear legal basis for action and an urgent appeal to the international community to take action against illegal practices in the occupied Palestinian territories.