Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during ‘Christian Conference’ in Jerusalem, July 27, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at his Belgium counterpart on Wednesday, calling him “a weak leader who seeks to appease Islamic terrorism by sacrificing Israel” a day after Brussels announced it would recognize a Palestinian state if certain conditions are met.

Netanyahu‘s government has been angered by pledges from France, Britain, Canada, Australia, and now Belgium, to formally recognize a Palestinian state when world leaders gather this month at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever “wants to feed the terrorist crocodile before it devours Belgium,” the office of the Israeli prime minister wrote on its official X account.

Israel would continue to defend itself, it said.

Netanyahu similarly hit out at Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last month, also labeling him as “weak” after Canberra announced it would recognize a Palestinian state and then barred a right-wing Israeli lawmaker from the country.

Netanyahu has said recognizing a Palestinian state would serve as a reward for Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which triggered the Gaza war. Israel has faced mounting international pressure over the toll its military offensive has taken on the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

Belgium said this week it will recognize a Palestinian state if Hamas is removed from power in Gaza and all remaining Israeli hostages held by the terrorist group are freed.