Belgium government faces pressure to recognise Palestine
The prime minister of Belgium has just started meeting with his deputies, who represent the five political parties that form the governing coalition in Belgium. On the agenda, the top issue is recognising the state of Palestine.
Earlier this morning, there was a great deal of anger following the Belgian prime minister’s statement yesterday that it does not make sense to recognise Palestine unless certain conditions are met, by which he meant the need to disarm Hamas, release the captives and provide security guarantees for Israel.
However, people are saying this is not up to us to decide, and that Belgium stands for international legitimacy and rights; hence, this is the moment for it to officially recognise Palestine.
Trade unions and leading newspapers published headlines today suggesting that this could be a historic moment, in which Belgium must take a stand by recognising Palestine.
This urgency explains the current political atmosphere. Today, this issue is the most prominent political story in Belgium, potentially shaping the future of the country’s governing coalition.
Row over Bosnia’s Jewish treasure raising funds for Gaza
Bosnia’s national museum has defended a decision to donate funds from the display of a precious Jewish manuscript to the people of Gaza.
It said ticket sales to see the Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the most precious religious manuscripts of the Middle Ages, would be donated to “support the people of Palestine who suffer systematic, calculated and cold-blooded terror, directly by the state of Israel”.
The move drew intense criticism earlier this month from Jewish organisations, with some abroad accusing the museum of anti-Semitism. But museum director Mirsad Sijaric, 55, stood by the decision and said he had received numerous messages of support from Jewish people around the world.
“Did we choose one of the sides? Yes, we chose one of the sides,” Sijaric told the AFP news agency, adding that the move was “absolutely not” directed against Jewish people, but was instead a message of opposition to what was happening in Gaza.
“Feigning neutrality is siding with evil. In my opinion, this is pure evil, and one must oppose it.”
Pope Leo appeals for end to Gaza war
Pope Leo, who became the first American pontiff in May, has strongly called for an end to the nearly two-year conflict, urging a permanent ceasefire, the release of captives and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
“I once again issue a strong appeal … so that an end may be put to the conflict in the Holy Land, which has caused so much terror, destruction and death,” Pope Leo said in his weekly audience at the Vatican.
“I implore that all hostages be freed, that a permanent ceasefire be reached, that the safe entry of humanitarian aid be facilitated and that international humanitarian law be fully respected,” he said.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Almodovar urges Spain to cut all ties with Israel over Gaza
Spanish director Pedro Almodovar has urged Madrid to cut all diplomatic and commercial ties with Israel over its war in Gaza, calling the conflict a “genocide”.
In a video posted on Instagram by his production company, he called on Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to convince other European leaders to do the same.
“I ask our government to sever diplomatic, commercial and all types of relations with the State of Israel as a sign of repulsion against the genocide it is committing against the people of Gaza before the eyes of the entire world,” he said.
Almodovar has previously signed a letter with Spanish artists, including actor Javier Bardem, denouncing the “silence” over Gaza during the Cannes film festival in May.
Sanchez has called Israel’s war in Gaza a “genocide” in June, and recognised a Palestinian state in May.
