World
Belgium blocks citizens living in Israeli settlements from consular services
Thousands of Belgians living beyond the pre-1967 Green Line are now unable to have their passports issued or renewed
January 15, 2026 13:24
Thousands of Belgians living beyond the pre-1967 Green Line are now unable to have their passports issued or renewed
January 15, 2026 13:24By
Belgium has sparked anger in Israel and across Jewish communities abroad after by withdrawing consular services from Belgian citizens living beyond the pre-1967 Green Line.
Under the new policy, Belgian nationals residing in Israeli settlements in the West Bank are no longer entitled to key consular services.
This means they are now unable to have their passports issued or renewed, register their marriage or the birth of their children, and they have also been barred from participating in Belgian elections.
The measure affects thousands of Belgian citizens living in Israel, who have received an email from the Belgium’s Consulate General in Jerusalem and its embassy in Tel Aviv informing them they have no official right to these services based on their address.
“You have settled in a settlement not recognised by international law, to which Belgium is committed. Therefore, you are no longer registered at this address in the consular population register. This also applies to members of your family residing at the same address.”
Former Israeli ambassador to France, Daniel Saada, condemned the move to be a form of religious discrimination.
“The consulate cannot openly make this selection based on religion – so it has found a workaround,” he claimed.
Those affected by this new approach have been given 60 days to lodge an appeal.
However, Belgium has made it clear that it will only restore consular services if they relocate to an address recognised by Brussels and officially register the change.
The decision follows an alarming shift in Belgian foreign policy announced in September 2025.
At the time, the government outlined a package of measures linked to its stance on the possible recognition of a Palestinian state.
It also included sanctions against Israeli ministers and the rejection of requests by Israeli military aircraft to use Belgian airspace.
Saada warned that the consular move sets a dangerous precedent.
“As in the 1940s, a legal construct is once again being used to legitimise discrimination…If this is not stopped, Israel must act to prevent a foreign power from selecting Jews in Jerusalem – our capital.”
He also argued that Belgium was acting inconsistently by allowing its Jerusalem consulate to claim responsibility for Jerusalem, the Palestinian territories and Unrwa-related matters.
And he said this also raised questions about Belgium’s own compliance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry has also slammed Belgium’s decision.
In a statement it described the policy as “scandalous and hypocritical” and said Belgium was discriminating against its own citizens based solely on their place of residence. The ministry said Israel was considering further bilateral steps in response.
“We strongly object to the denial of consular services to Belgian citizens residing in Judea and Samaria.
“Belgium’s decision is disgraceful and hypocritical, discriminating against citizens based on their place of residence.”
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