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'''Belgium–Israel relations''' are the bilateral relations between [[Belgium]] and [[Israel]].
'''Belgium–Israel relations''' are the bilateral relations between [[Belgium]] and [[Israel]].
Belgium voted in favor of the [[United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine]] in 1947 and recognized the State of Israel on January 15, 1950. Belgium has an embassy in [[Tel Aviv]],<ref>[http://www.diplomatie.be/TELAVIV/ Belgian embassy in Tel Aviv]</ref> and Israel has an embassy in [[Brussels]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brussels.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/missionhome.asp |title=Israeli embassy in Brussels |publisher=Brussels.mfa.gov.il |date=2012-03-26 |accessdate=2013-01-17}}</ref>
Belgium voted in favor of the [[United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine]] in 1947 and recognized the State of Israel on January 15, 1950. Belgium has an embassy in [[Tel Aviv]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.diplomatie.be/TELAVIV/ |title=Belgian embassy in Tel Aviv |access-date=2009-01-31 |archive-date=2016-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018063233/http://www.diplomatie.be/telaviv |url-status=live }}</ref> and Israel has an embassy in [[Brussels]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://brussels.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/missionhome.asp |title=Israeli embassy in Brussels |publisher=Brussels.mfa.gov.il |date=2012-03-26 |access-date=2013-01-17 |archive-date=2012-07-07 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707200507/http://brussels.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/missionhome.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>


In February 2010, a plaque honoring [[King Albert I of Belgium|King Albert I]], husband of [[Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of Belgium|Elizabeth of Bavaria]], was unveiled at Albert Square in [[Tel Aviv]] in the presence of the Tel Aviv mayor [[Ron Huldai]] and Ambassador [[Bénédicte Frankinet]].
In February 2010, a plaque honoring [[King Albert I of Belgium|King Albert I]], husband of [[Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of Belgium|Elizabeth of Bavaria]], was unveiled at Albert Square in [[Tel Aviv]] in the presence of the Tel Aviv mayor [[Ron Huldai]] and Ambassador [[Bénédicte Frankinet]].


==Country comparison==
==State visits==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!
! '''[[Belgium]]'''
! '''[[Israel]]'''
|-
|'''Flag'''
| style="text-align:center" | {{Flagicon|Belgium|size=130px|text=none}}
| style="text-align:center" | {{Flagicon|Israel|size=130px|text=none}}
|-
|'''[[List of countries by population|Population]]'''
|11,420,163 (2018)
|8,904,280 (2018)<ref name="Jewish Voice NY">{{cite web |url=http://jewishvoiceny.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13303:israels-population-reaches-8462000-by-end-of-2015&catid=107:israel&Itemid=290 |date=31 December 2015 |publisher=[[Jewish Voice NY]] |accessdate=26 January 2016|title=The Jewish Voice }}</ref>
|-
|'''[[List of countries and dependencies by area|Area]]'''
|{{convert|30528|km2|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|20770|km2|0|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''[[List of sovereign states and dependent territories by population density|Population density]]'''
|{{convert|372|/km2|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|403|/km2|0|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''[[List of national capitals|Capital]]'''
|[[City of Brussels|Brussels]]
|[[Jerusalem]]
|-
|'''Largest city'''
|[[Antwerp]] 520,504 (1,200,000 Metro)
|[[Jerusalem]] 901,302 (1,253,900 Metro)
|-
|'''Largest metro area'''
|[[Brussels]] 2,120,000
|[[Gush Dan|Tel Aviv-Yafo]] 3,854,000
|-
|'''Government'''
|[[Constitutional monarchy]]
|[[Parliamentary republic]]
|-
| '''First head of state'''
| [[Erasme Louis Surlet de Chokier]]
| [[Saul|Saul of Judah]]
|-
|'''Current head of state'''
| [[Philippe of Belgium|Filipe, King of the Belgians]]
| [[Reuven Rivlin]]
|-
|'''Official language'''
|[[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]]
|[[Hebrew]]
|-
|'''Main religions {{citation needed|date=November 2012}}'''
|52.9% [[Catholic]], 2.1% Protestant, 1.6% [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]], 4.1% Other Christians, 17.1% Agnostic, 14.9% Atheist, 5.2% [[Islam|Muslim]],
2.1% Other
|75.4% Jews, 20.89% Muslim, 7.8% others
|-
|'''Ethnic groups
|47%% [[Flemish people|Flemings]], 28% [[Walloons]], 1% [[Germans]], 1% [[Turkish people|Turks]] 23% Others
|75.4% [[Jews]], 20.6% [[Arab]], 4.1% others
|-
|'''[[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|GDP (nominal)]]'''
|US$551 billion ($48,258 per capita)
|US$305 billion ($38,004 per capita)
|-
|'''[[List of countries by military expenditures|Military expenditures]]'''
|$4.2 billion (0.9% of GDP)
|$23.2 billion (7.6% of GDP)
|-
|'''[[List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel|Military troops]]'''
|29,925
|176,500
|-
|'''[[List of countries by English-speaking population|English speakers]]'''
|60%
|84.97%
|-
|'''[[List of countries by labour force|Labour forces]]'''
|5,300,000
|4,198,000
|-
|}

==State visitis==
[[File:King Baudouin visit to Israel 1964.jpg|thumb|King Baudouin's visit to Israel 1964]]
[[File:King Baudouin visit to Israel 1964.jpg|thumb|King Baudouin's visit to Israel 1964]]
King Albert visited Tel Aviv in 1933 and was hosted by [[Meir Dizengoff]].
King Albert visited Tel Aviv in 1933 and was hosted by [[Meir Dizengoff]].


[[Baudouin of Belgium|King Baudouin]] and [[Queen Fabiola of Belgium|Queen Fabiola]] visited Israel in 1964.<ref name="diplomatie1">[http://www.diplomatie.be/telaviv/default.asp?id=30&ACT=5&content=42&mnu=30 A short history of the relations between Belgium and Israel]</ref>
[[Baudouin of Belgium|King Baudouin]] and [[Queen Fabiola of Belgium|Queen Fabiola]] visited Israel in 1964.<ref name="diplomatie1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.diplomatie.be/telaviv/default.asp?id=30&ACT=5&content=42&mnu=30 |title=A short history of the relations between Belgium and Israel |access-date=2012-01-31 |archive-date=2012-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114071811/http://www.diplomatie.be/telaviv/default.asp?id=30&ACT=5&content=42&mnu=30 |url-status=live }}</ref>


==History==
==History==
In 1975, Belgium voted against the UN resolution equating [[Zionism]] with racism. It helped Israel establish informal ties with [[Tunisia]] and join the [[Western European and Others Group]] (WEOG) at the [[UN]]. Many cultural, scientific and economic bilateral agreements have been signed, and a number of Belgium-Israel friendship associations have been established. The faculty club and guesthouse of [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]], known as Beit Belgia, was built with the financial aid of the Belgian Friends of the Hebrew University.<ref name="diplomatie1"/>
In 1975, Belgium voted against the UN resolution equating [[Zionism]] with racism. It helped Israel establish informal ties with [[Tunisia]] and join the [[Western European and Others Group]] at the [[United Nations]]. Many cultural, scientific and economic bilateral agreements have been signed, and a number of Belgium-Israel friendship associations have been established. The faculty club and guesthouse of [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]], known as ''Beit Belgia'', was built with the financial aid of the Belgian Friends of the Hebrew University.<ref name="diplomatie1"/>


In 2009, Israeli exports to Belgium reached $2.37 billion, while imports from Belgium totaled $ 2.56 billion. In 2010, trade increased by approximately 50%.<ref>[http://www.diplomatie.be/telaviv/default.asp?id=32&mnu=32 Belgium-Israel trade]</ref>
In 2009, Israeli exports to Belgium reached $2.37 billion, while imports from Belgium totalled $2.56 billion. In 2010, trade increased by approximately 50%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.diplomatie.be/telaviv/default.asp?id=32&mnu=32 |title=Belgium-Israel trade |access-date=2012-01-31 |archive-date=2016-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026162605/http://www.diplomatie.be/telaviv/default.asp?id=32&mnu=32 |url-status=live }}</ref>


In March 2010, Israel and Belgium signed a new [[tax treaty]] agreement to improve the competitiveness of Israeli companies operating in Belgium and encourage Belgian investment in Israel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.financeisrael.mof.gov.il/FinanceIsrael/Docs/En/pressReleases/20100412a.pdf |title=Israel signed a new tax agreement with Belgium |accessdate=2013-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109144549/http://www.financeisrael.mof.gov.il/FinanceIsrael/Docs/En/pressReleases/20100412a.pdf |archive-date=2014-11-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In March 2010, Israel and Belgium signed a new [[tax treaty]] agreement to improve the competitiveness of Israeli companies operating in Belgium and encourage Belgian investment in Israel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.financeisrael.mof.gov.il/FinanceIsrael/Docs/En/pressReleases/20100412a.pdf |title=Israel signed a new tax agreement with Belgium |access-date=2013-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109144549/http://www.financeisrael.mof.gov.il/FinanceIsrael/Docs/En/pressReleases/20100412a.pdf |archive-date=2014-11-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Viaje_del_presidente_del_Gobierno_a_Israel_(Noviembre_2023).jpg|thumb|Belgian Prime Minister [[Alexander De Croo]] with Spanish Prime Minister [[Pedro Sánchez]] and Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] during the official visit in November 2023.]]
In October 2023, during the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war|Israel-Hamas war]], Belgian Prime Minister [[Alexander De Croo]] strongly condemned the atrocities committed by Hamas, and supported Israel's right to defend itself, but later deemed the destruction of Gaza "unacceptable", and called on Israel to respect international humanitarian law during its military operations. Following a meeting with Egyptian President [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]] in November, De Croo held a joint press conference at the [[Rafah Border Crossing|Rafah border crossing]] along with Spanish Prime Minister [[Pedro Sánchez]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-26 |title='A question of being humane' - Sánchez stands by Gaza comments that angered Israel |url=https://www.spainenglish.com/2023/11/26/question-of-being-humane-sanchez-gaza-comments-angered-israel/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Spain in English |language=en-GB}}</ref> During the conference, both European leaders said in a joint statement that the "indiscriminate killings of innocent civilians" in Gaza are "completely unacceptable."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pedro Sánchez On X, 'We have to replace violence with hope.' |url=https://x.com/sanchezcastejon/status/1728070637405573147 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129095957/https://twitter.com/sanchezcastejon/status/1728070637405573147 |archive-date=2023-11-29 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en, es}}</ref> In a joint statement, they emphasized that the time had come for the [[international community]] and the [[European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights|European Union (EU)]] to once and for all recognize a [[State of Palestine|Palestinian State]] and called for a permanent ceasefire in the war-battered territory.<ref name=":1" /> Israel lashed out at the two prime ministers "for not placing full responsibility for the crimes against humanity committed by Hamas, who massacred our citizens and used the Palestinians as human shields."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keeley |first=Graham |title=Spanish politicians who expressed sympathy for Palestine enrage Israel |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/17/israel-accuses-spain-of-siding-with-hamas-after-genocide-accusation |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=2023-11-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128093549/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/17/israel-accuses-spain-of-siding-with-hamas-after-genocide-accusation |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-24 |title=Israel summons Spanish, Belgian ambassadors following criticism during visit to Rafah |url=https://apnews.com/article/spain-belgium-palestine-state-israel-ambassadors-c4248f9984841ed580b6769a116cee29 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201082758/https://apnews.com/article/spain-belgium-palestine-state-israel-ambassadors-c4248f9984841ed580b6769a116cee29 |url-status=live }}</ref> Israeli Foreign Minister [[Eli Cohen (politician, born 1972)|Eli Cohen]] instructed the countries' ambassadors to be summoned for a sharp reprimand, saying "We condemn the false claims of the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium who give support to terrorism."<ref name=":0" />
Belgium, along with Spain, Canada, the Netherlands and Japan, have all announced that they will stop sending weapons to Israel.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tait |first1=Robert |title=Which countries supply Israel with arms and why is Biden reluctant to stop? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/09/us-israel-weapons |agency=The Guardian |date=9 Apr 2024}}</ref>


==Resident diplomatic missions==
* Belgium has an embassy in [[Tel Aviv]].
* Israel has an embassy in [[Brussels]].
==See also==
==See also==
*[[Foreign relations of Belgium]]
*[[Foreign relations of Belgium]]
*[[Foreign relations of Israel]]
*[[Foreign relations of Israel]]
*[[Diamond industry in Israel]]
*[[Diamond industry in Israel]]
*[[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]
*[[History of the Jews in Belgium]]
*[[History of the Jews in Belgium]]
*[[Israel–Spain relations]]
*[[Belgium–Palestine relations]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal |last1=De Raeymaeker |first1=Omer |title=La Belgique et les conflits Israelo-Arabes, 1948-1978 |journal=Studia Diplomatica |date=1980 |volume=33 |issue=5 |pages=577–617 |jstor=44834628 |issn=0770-2965}}
*{{cite book |last1=Berny |first1=Catherine |title=La Terre trop promise: Belgique-Israël, 1947-1950 |date=1988 |publisher=CIACO |location=}}


==External links==
==External links==
Line 116: Line 47:
{{Foreign relations of Belgium}}
{{Foreign relations of Belgium}}
{{Foreign relations of Israel}}
{{Foreign relations of Israel}}
{{Portal bar|Politics|Belgium|Israel}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Belgium-Israel relations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Belgium-Israel relations}}

Latest revision as of 12:47, 12 August 2024

Belgium–Israel relations
Map indicating locations of Belgium and Israel

Belgium
Israel

Belgium–Israel relations are the bilateral relations between Belgium and Israel. Belgium voted in favor of the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine in 1947 and recognized the State of Israel on January 15, 1950. Belgium has an embassy in Tel Aviv,[1] and Israel has an embassy in Brussels.[2]

In February 2010, a plaque honoring King Albert I, husband of Elizabeth of Bavaria, was unveiled at Albert Square in Tel Aviv in the presence of the Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai and Ambassador Bénédicte Frankinet.

State visits

[edit]
King Baudouin's visit to Israel 1964

King Albert visited Tel Aviv in 1933 and was hosted by Meir Dizengoff.

King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola visited Israel in 1964.[3]

History

[edit]

In 1975, Belgium voted against the UN resolution equating Zionism with racism. It helped Israel establish informal ties with Tunisia and join the Western European and Others Group at the United Nations. Many cultural, scientific and economic bilateral agreements have been signed, and a number of Belgium-Israel friendship associations have been established. The faculty club and guesthouse of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, known as Beit Belgia, was built with the financial aid of the Belgian Friends of the Hebrew University.[3]

In 2009, Israeli exports to Belgium reached $2.37 billion, while imports from Belgium totalled $2.56 billion. In 2010, trade increased by approximately 50%.[4]

In March 2010, Israel and Belgium signed a new tax treaty agreement to improve the competitiveness of Israeli companies operating in Belgium and encourage Belgian investment in Israel.[5]

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the official visit in November 2023.

In October 2023, during the Israel-Hamas war, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo strongly condemned the atrocities committed by Hamas, and supported Israel's right to defend itself, but later deemed the destruction of Gaza "unacceptable", and called on Israel to respect international humanitarian law during its military operations. Following a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in November, De Croo held a joint press conference at the Rafah border crossing along with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.[6] During the conference, both European leaders said in a joint statement that the "indiscriminate killings of innocent civilians" in Gaza are "completely unacceptable."[7] In a joint statement, they emphasized that the time had come for the international community and the European Union (EU) to once and for all recognize a Palestinian State and called for a permanent ceasefire in the war-battered territory.[6] Israel lashed out at the two prime ministers "for not placing full responsibility for the crimes against humanity committed by Hamas, who massacred our citizens and used the Palestinians as human shields."[8][9] Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen instructed the countries' ambassadors to be summoned for a sharp reprimand, saying "We condemn the false claims of the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium who give support to terrorism."[9] Belgium, along with Spain, Canada, the Netherlands and Japan, have all announced that they will stop sending weapons to Israel.[10]

Resident diplomatic missions

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Belgian embassy in Tel Aviv". Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
  2. ^ "Israeli embassy in Brussels". Brussels.mfa.gov.il. 2012-03-26. Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
  3. ^ a b "A short history of the relations between Belgium and Israel". Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2012-01-31.
  4. ^ "Belgium-Israel trade". Archived from the original on 2016-10-26. Retrieved 2012-01-31.
  5. ^ "Israel signed a new tax agreement with Belgium" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-09. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
  6. ^ a b "'A question of being humane' - Sánchez stands by Gaza comments that angered Israel". Spain in English. 2023-11-26. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  7. ^ "Pedro Sánchez On X, 'We have to replace violence with hope.'". X (formerly Twitter) (in English and Spanish). Archived from the original on 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  8. ^ Keeley, Graham. "Spanish politicians who expressed sympathy for Palestine enrage Israel". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  9. ^ a b "Israel summons Spanish, Belgian ambassadors following criticism during visit to Rafah". AP News. 2023-11-24. Archived from the original on 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  10. ^ Tait, Robert (9 Apr 2024). "Which countries supply Israel with arms and why is Biden reluctant to stop?". The Guardian.

Further reading

[edit]
  • De Raeymaeker, Omer (1980). "La Belgique et les conflits Israelo-Arabes, 1948-1978". Studia Diplomatica. 33 (5): 577–617. ISSN 0770-2965. JSTOR 44834628.
  • Berny, Catherine (1988). La Terre trop promise: Belgique-Israël, 1947-1950. CIACO.
[edit]
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