America News Agency

Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot made an assessment regarding the latest developments in the Middle East and the diplomatic processes between Lebanon and Israel.

Supporting ceasefire and dialogue efforts, Prevot said, “The temporary ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran and the announcement that Israel has agreed to negotiate with Lebanon to stop the clashes are good news for the Middle East. I appreciate the efforts of all parties.”

Prevot said, “Yesterday in Beirut, I supported President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam in their calls for the launch of such negotiations.”

On the other hand, criticizing Israel’s recent settlement decisions, Prevot said, “Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities announced that they had declared 34 new illegal settlements in the West Bank and decided to ignore the existing status of Jerusalem’s holy sites.”

Referring to stability and security efforts, Prevot stated, “These are decisions that run counter to efforts to bring stability and security to the Middle East, especially Israel. I am horrified to see Palestinians injured or killed by settler gangs. This is unacceptable.”

Repeating his call for compliance with international law, Prevot said, “I call on the Israeli authorities to end the settlement policy, which is a clear violation of international law, stop this violence, and bring those responsible to justice. I also reiterate my support for the role of the Hashemite custodianship. The status quo must be respected.”