Tel Aviv refuses to welcome Belgian foreign minister

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to meet with Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders who was scheduled to arrive in Israel in the coming days. This is due to Brussels’ support for the plan to label settlement goods.

After Netanyahu announced this decision, the Belgian foreign ministry decided to postpone Didier’s visit indefinitely.

Netanyahu had instructed the foreign ministry to stop political communication with the European Union and its representatives in light of the EU’s decision to label products exported from settlements.

A senior official source told the Israeli Radio that a decision was made to cancel some meetings attended by the EU and Israel, including two on diplomacy, as well as the meetings of the subcommittee on international organisations and human rights.

Netanyahu also instructed the foreign ministry to reassess the EU’s involvement in the peace process.

Also read: Belgian groups call for ban on arms sales to Israel & Lawsuit against Belgian government over settlement imports