Flemish Coalition Partners Push for Tougher Action Against Israel
The majority parties CD&V and Vooruit have submitted a resolution to the Flemish Parliament asking the Flemish government to take measures against Israel in connection with the war in the Gaza Strip. Remarkably, they are doing so without their coalition partner N-VA. The move can be seen as a way of putting additional pressure on N-VA, reports 24brussels.
It is highly unusual for two majority parties to address a question to the government of which they themselves are part through a resolution. Within the Flemish government, the N-VA has shown reluctance to support tougher measures against Israel. Last week, Matthias Diependaele, the N-VA minister-president, did not respond positively to inquiries from Vooruit and CD&V regarding this issue.
“We are still in favour of settling this within the government, but we have not seen any initiative since last week’s meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee,” stated Kris Verduyckt, leader of the parliamentary group for Vooruit. “The next committee meeting is on 2 September. Resolutions from the opposition will be voted on there. We add our resolution to these. If it comes to a vote, we will vote in favour of our resolution.”
In their resolution, CD&V and Vooruit urge the Flemish government to advocate for the suspension of the trade agreement between the EU and Israel at the European level and for Israel’s exclusion from the Horizon research programme. They also propose that the Flemish government should encourage the federal government to recognize Palestine during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York this September.
At the regional level, they request the closure of the Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT) office in Tel Aviv and a tightening of the arms embargo against Israel.
Peter Van Rompuy, leader of the CD&V parliamentary group, expressed his expectation for prompt action from the Flemish government. “Our ministers will defend the same positions from the resolution at the government table,” he remarked. “We are counting on the Council of Ministers to meet as soon as possible and take action.”
