Egypt Welcomes Belgian Ban on Goods from Israeli Settlements

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad has welcomed the Belgian Council of Ministers' decision to ban imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements located in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

In a statement, the ministry said the decision is consistent with international law and relevant international resolutions governing the legal status of the occupied Palestinian territories.

The statement specifically cited United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which affirms that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories have no legal validity and calls for settlement activity to cease immediately, warning that continued expansion undermines the prospects for peace and a two-state solution.

The ministry also urged all European Union member states and the wider international community to follow Belgium's example by adopting similar legal measures prohibiting the import of products originating from Israeli settlements.

According to the ministry, such steps would reinforce respect for international law and support efforts to preserve the viability of a negotiated two-state solution.

The statement reiterated Egypt's position that lasting security and peace in the Middle East depend on ending the Israeli occupation and enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate right to self-determination, including the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state based on the June 4th, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.