Belgium Approves Ban on Imports From Israeli Communities in Judea and Samaria

Belgium’s federal government has approved a ban on goods produced in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, moving forward with a measure first agreed upon in September 2025. The decision was finalized during an overnight cabinet meeting over the weekend, shortly before the government entered its summer recess.

The move comes as the European Union remains divided over whether to impose bloc-wide restrictions on trade with Israeli communities beyond the Green Line. EU foreign ministers discussed several options days earlier, including import licensing, higher tariffs and a full ban, but did not reach an agreement.

Belgium is expected to implement the measure through a royal decree. However, the decree’s final text has not yet been published, and the government has not released an effective date, customs procedures or a detailed enforcement mechanism.

It also remains unclear how Belgian authorities would prevent restricted goods from entering the country indirectly through another EU member state. Once products enter the European Union’s customs system, they can generally move between member states with fewer internal controls.

Former Israeli deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel condemned the decision and said Belgium had crossed a line.

“Belgium has reached a point of no return,” Haskel said. “It can continue importing radical Islam. We will continue exporting products from Judea and Samaria to countries that choose to import innovation, quality and technology.”

Belgian opposition MP Sam Van Rooy, a member of the Vlaams Belang party, also criticized the government. He accused it of selectively targeting Israel and argued that the measure could harm Palestinians employed by Israeli-owned businesses in Judea and Samaria.

Van Rooy said tens of thousands of Palestinians could be affected, although that figure has not been independently confirmed. He also accused the government of focusing on Israel while paying less attention to attacks on Christians by Islamist terrorists in Africa and the Middle East.

Amnesty International’s French-speaking Belgian section welcomed the cabinet’s decision but said it did not go far enough.

“Although this agreement has been long overdue and far from perfect, it is still a step forward to Belgium’s credit,” advocacy officer Nathalie Janne said.

Amnesty and other pro-Palestinian organizations argued that Belgium’s move could increase pressure on other European governments to adopt similar restrictions.

Those groups also criticized the measure for reportedly excluding Israeli-controlled areas in the Golan Heights. They questioned why the ban would distinguish between the Golan Heights and Judea and Samaria under Belgium’s stated policy toward territories it considers occupied.

The practical impact of the ban will depend on the royal decree’s final language. Until Belgium publishes the decree, its geographic scope, enforcement system and ability to block indirect imports will remain unresolved.