Statements made by Development Minister Caroline Gennez on the Palestinian territories in Belgian media have caused a diplomatic row with Israel, but Gennez said she does not regret her statements.
The situation in occupied Palestinian territories is "untenable," Gennez said in an interview with De Morgen earlier this week, explaining her plan of action for the world's "forgotten crises" and adding that "entire villages are being wiped off the map by the Israelis."
These statements did not go unnoticed in Israel either. Israel's ambassador to Belgium, Idit Rosenzweig-Abu, said on social media that she was "shocked" by Gennez's "libellous and defamatory accusations."
Both Gennez herself and the Foreign Ministry received an official letter of protest from the Israeli embassy. In Israel, too, Belgian ambassador Jean-Luc Bodson has been taken to task. He will be reprimanded and must shed more light on the matter.
Minister Gennez, however, told De Morgen she did not regret her statements. "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."
Gennez stressed that 2023 is "already the deadliest year" in a long time in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "In recent months, we are seeing systematic destruction of infrastructure. This is driving whole communities in the West Bank out of their villages. A normal life is de facto made impossible."
In the interview, she focused on the allocation of development aid and also mentioned other "forgotten crises" such as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Syria, not to mention the war in Ukraine.
Next Thursday, Gennez will receive the Israeli ambassador for a "firm conversation."
