Israel’s Netanyahu calls Belgium PM ‘weak’ after Palestinian recognition pledge

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at his Belgium counterpart on Wednesday, calling him “a weak leader who seeks to appease terrorism by sacrificing Israel” a day after Brussels announced it would recognize a Palestinian state.

Netanyahu’s government has been angered by pledges from France, Britain, Canada, Australia, and now Belgium, to formally recognize a Palestinian state when world leaders gather this month at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever “wants to feed the terrorist crocodile before it devours Belgium,” the office of the Israeli prime minister wrote on its official X account.

Israel would continue to defend itself, it said.

Netanyahu similarly hit out at Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last month, also labelling him as “weak” after Canberra announced it would recognize a Palestinian state and then barred a right-wing Israeli lawmaker from the country.

The Palestinians have long sought a state in the Israel-occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and in Gaza. Israeli officials have rejected pledges to recognize a Palestinian state, saying it does not change the reality on the ground.

Netanyahu has said recognizing a Palestinian state would serve as a reward for Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the Gaza war. Israel has faced mounting international pressure over the toll its military offensive has taken on the civilian population in the shattered Gaza Strip.