CD&V and Vooruit increase pressure on coalition partner N-VA with Flemish Gaza resolution

The majority parties CD&V and Vooruit have submitted a resolution to the Flemish Parliament asking the Flemish government to take measures against Israel in connection with the war in the Gaza Strip. Remarkably, they are doing so without their coalition partner N-VA. The move can be seen as a way of putting additional pressure on N-VA.

It is highly unusual for two majority parties to address a question to the government of which they themselves are part by means of a resolution. In the Flemish government, the N-VA is reluctant when it comes to tougher measures against Israel. Last week, Flemish minister president Matthias Diependaele of N-VA did not respond positively to questions along these lines from Vooruit and CD&V.

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“We are still in favour of settling this within the government, but we have not seen any initiative since last week's meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee,” Flemish parliamentary group leader Kris Verduyckt of Vooruit told VRT NWS. "The next committee meeting is on 2 September. Resolutions from the opposition will be voted on there. We add our resolution to these. If it comes to a vote, we will vote in favour of our resolution."

In the resolution, CD&V and Vooruit call on the Flemish government to advocate at the European level for a suspension of the trade agreement between the EU and Israel and for Israel's exclusion from the Horizon research programme. Both parties believe that the Flemish government should urge the federal government to recognise Palestine during the next United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.

At the Flemish level, they want the closure of the Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT) office in Tel Aviv and a tightening of the arms embargo against Israel.

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Flemish parliamentary group leader Peter Van Rompuy of CD&V expressed his hope for swift action by the Flemish government. “Our ministers will defend the same positions from the resolution at the government table,” he told VRT NWS. “We are counting on the Council of Ministers to meet as soon as possible and take action.”

^{#FlandersNewsService | Kris Verduyckt of Vooruit © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}

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