Belgium bans imports from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories

Belgium's Council of Ministers has approved a ban on imports of products originating from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. This significant decision, reached after more than 20 hours of intense discussions among coalition parties, aims to align with international stances on the illegality of settlements.

The new regulation will systematically deny import authorizations for goods from settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza. A 120-day transitional period will be implemented, with specific exemptions for Palestinian economic operators and for activities of a humanitarian nature. The Council of State will also review the legality of the new norms.

This move follows Belgium's recognition of the State of Palestine last September, although formal legal recognition through a royal decree is still pending. The ministers also advanced other measures before the summer recess, including a controversial reform on the annualization of the working day, allowing companies to demand more overtime in exchange for more vacation days. Additionally, five extra days of paternity leave were approved for families with children born from early 2026, and the tax on short-haul flights will increase from 5 to 7 euros.