Belgium Halts Consular Services for Citizens in Israeli Settlements, Sparking Outrage From Jewish Groups

Belgium has halted consular services for Belgian citizens living in Israeli settlements, affecting thousands of dual nationals and drawing outrage from Jewish leaders who call the move discriminatory.

According to multiple reports, the Belgian Consulate in Jerusalem and the Belgian Embassy in Tel Aviv have recently halted services — including passport issuance and renewal, birth and marriage registration, and assistance with voting in Belgian elections — for citizens residing in the West Bank.

After receiving complaints from Belgian citizens, the Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed to Israeli media that it is reviewing the matter, coordinating with Belgian authorities and exploring possible diplomatic measures.

“We strongly object to the denial of consular services to Belgian citizens residing in Judea and Samaria,” the ministry said in a statement, using the historical name for the West Bank preferred by Israel. “Belgium’s decision is disgraceful and hypocritical, discriminating against citizens based on their place of residence.”

Officials at the consulate reportedly emailed those affected, informing them that their addresses do not comply with international law and that they, along with any family members at the same address, would no longer be registered.

They were also told they could challenge this decision within 60 days or regain consular services by moving to a location recognized under international law and updating their official address.

Much of the world does not recognize the legality of the settlements, or Israeli communities in the West Bank. Proponents of settlements assert that Jews have a right to live in the Biblical lands of Judea and Samaria and that they provide strategic depth and security. Defenders of Israel also note that, while about one-fifth of the country’s population is Arab and enjoys equal rights, Palestinian law forbids selling any land to Israelis.

The Jewish Information and Documentation Center (JID), a Belgian nonprofit that combats antisemitism, strongly condemned the government’s latest anti-Israel measure, accusing it of “illegally discriminating against its own citizens through consular policies.”

“When a state provides consular assistance, it must do so equally and without discrimination, regardless of a person’s origin, religion, or place of residence,” JID deputy chair Ralph Pais wrote in a post on X. 

Persbericht JID:

België discrimineert zijn eigen burgers onrechtmatig via consulaire beleidsvoering

Brussel, 9 januari 2026

Het Joods Informatie- en Documentatiecentrum (JID) veroordeelt met klem de beslissing van het Belgische consulaat om consulaire bijstand te weigeren aan…

— JID (@s_antisemitisme) January 9, 2026

Introduced by Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot last year, this latest measure is part of a series of policies linked to Belgium’s conditional recognition of a Palestinian state, which, despite requiring Hamas’s exclusion from any future government — a condition yet to be met — began seeing other provisions implemented last month.

In September, Prévot announced a package of 12 sanctions targeting Israel, including a ban on imports from Jewish communities in the West Bank, entry bans on “two extremist Israeli ministers,” Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, a halt to Israeli military flights over Belgian airspace, and a review of procurement policies with Israeli companies.

“Given the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine … and the violence committed by Israel in violation of international law … Belgium was compelled to take decisive measures to increase pressure on the Israeli government,” the top Belgian diplomat said at the time.

“It is not about punishing the Israeli people but about ensuring their government respects international and humanitarian law and taking steps to try to change the situation on the ground,” Prévot continued.

The Belgian diplomat has repeatedly clashed with — and often stood in opposition to — Prime Minister Bart De Wever, whose more cautious approach to Palestinian statehood and generally pro-Israel stance have fueled tensions within the government.

Last year, Prévot even threatened to block government initiatives if the coalition continued to hinder a firmer stance on Israel and the recognition of a Palestinian state.

“If there is no stronger tone within the government regarding the human rights violations committed by the Israeli government, or if no measures are taken in favor of recognizing Palestine, a major crisis is looming,” Prévot said during an interview with De Standaard.

While De Wever warned that recognizing a Palestinian state would be “pointless and even counterproductive” without strict conditions, Prévot defended the move as necessary “to preserve the prospects for a two-state solution and to condemn Israel’s expansionist intentions through its settlement programs and military occupations.”