Prime Minister of Belgium calls for EU travel ban for “violent and extremist Israelis”

Prime Minister of Belgium calls for EU travel ban for “violent and extremist Israelis”

The EU should look at barring “extremist” Israelis who call for violence against Palestinians from visiting Europe, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said.

The liberal premier pointed to Israeli violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and said the lack of action against such “violent extremists” was “unacceptable”.

“Our country must ensure that those who commit serious crimes, for example, those who commit violence in the West Bank, can be prevented from entering our country and the European Union,” De Croo told the Belgian parliament.

He suggested there could be sanctions on individuals, including “a minister who calls for the use of nuclear weapons against a population that cannot do anything and that already lives today in horrible conditions”.

The Belgian Prime Minister had previously said that Israel’s attacks on innocent civilians in Gaza are disproportionate.

“Bombing down a refugee camp because it allegedly houses one Hamas leader is completely disproportionate. It is never acceptable that so many civilian casualties are caused trying to eliminate one person,” he told reporters on Monday after meeting Jordan’s King Abdullah in Brussels.