Wallonia bans all transit of arms to Israel

A new decree by the Walloon Region has banned all transit of weapons, with or without transshipment, to Israel, closing a loophole in regional legislation that was used by the airline Challenge, Le Soir reports.

At least 70 tonnes of ammunition and explosives have passed through Liège Airport since 7 October, because of a loophole in regional legislation on the transit of weapons. Challenge, run by Israeli Yossi Shoukroun, had transported the military equipment from New York to Tel Aviv, even though the Walloon government had re-committed itself in early February to no longer grant transit or export licences to Israel.

Challenge took advantage of a blind spot: transit without transshipment. Until now, if an aircraft made a short stopover at Liège without moving the cargo from its hold, no licence was required. Walloon minister president Elio Di Rupo has now signed a ministerial decree to ban all transit of arms to Israel, with or without transshipment, his office confirmed to Le Soir.

^{Protest action at Liège airport © BELGA PHOTO DIDIER DE HOE}