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Israel's Netanyahu calls Belgium PM 'weak' after Palestinian recognition pledge
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on September 3, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on September 3, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Netanyahu criticizes Belgium's PM for recognizing a Palestinian state, calling him 'weak'. This follows similar pledges by other nations.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at his Belgium counterpart on Wednesday, calling him "a weak leader who seeks to appease Islamic terrorism by sacrificing Israel" a day after Brussels announced it would recognise a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu's government has been angered by pledges from France, Britain, Canada, Australia, and now Belgium, to formally recognise 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 recognise 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 recognise a Palestinian state, saying it does not change the reality on the ground.
Netanyahu has said recognising 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.
(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Ros Russell)
Netanyahu referred to Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever as 'a weak leader' who is trying to appease Islamic terrorism.
Netanyahu's government expressed anger over pledges from several countries, including Belgium, to formally recognize a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu stated that recognizing a Palestinian state would reward Hamas for their attack on Israel, which triggered the ongoing Gaza war.
Countries that have pledged to recognize a Palestinian state include France, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Belgium.
Netanyahu similarly criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, labeling him as 'weak' after Australia announced its recognition of a Palestinian state.
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