What is the ruling about?

A container was recently stopped for inspection at the port of Antwerp after suspicions arose about its contents: tapered roller bearings possibly destined as military equipment for Israel. The cargo, from France, was to be shipped to the port of Ashdod, with Ashot Ashkelon Industries as the consignee. This Israeli company is known for producing components for defence, including for the Merkava tanks and Namer armoured vehicles deployed in Gaza.

The case is complex because tapered roller bearings can be considered ‘dual-use’ goods, usable for both civilian and military purposes, making the need for a licence moot.

However, NGO Vredesactie and opposition party Groen have called on the Flemish government to intervene, as the final destination of the material strongly suggests a military application.

Flemish minister-president Matthias Diependaele confirmed that the container has been put aside and that the Control Strategic Goods Service (dCSG) is investigating the cargo. If it turns out that the goods are indeed intended to strengthen the Israeli army, the transit may be stopped in line with Flemish policy and an official report will be drawn up.

The Brussels interlocutory court has now ruled that the container may therefore not be transported to Israel.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

by Driezzz

17 comments

  2. Knowing the NVA’s support for the israeli genocide, it won’t be long before that container is on its merry way

  4. It’s crazy to think that until this moment this was still allowed. History won’t be kind to us in this regard.

  5. Unfortunately the government has already set a precedent of deliberately ignoring the courts, even if they have to pay massive fines. 

  6. I would say this is a good thing where it not stopped to get some more bribes from one or the other party, or even maybe both 🤔

  7. En bartje en Theo gaan zich der ni aan houden cuz they’re on that isra-tiddy

  10. The government’s already appealing the decision according to a recent update on VRT:

    > Flemish government appeals Brussels summary court ruling

    > The Flemish government is going to appeal against the ruling of the judge in summary proceedings in Brussels earlier today. That ruling states that Flanders must stop all transit of military equipment to Israel. The container with tapered roller bearings for the Israeli defense company Ashot that was intercepted in the port of Antwerp is therefore not allowed to leave the port under any circumstances.

    > The cabinet of Flemish minister-president Matthias Diependaele (N-VA) says the container in question has already been preventively blocked before this procedure, pending the investigation by the Strategic Goods Control Service (dCSG). This shows that our services act not only correctly, but also timely and carefully, it sounds.

    > The cabinet further states that every report is carefully investigated and when military material is found that contributes to an armed conflict, it is stopped anyway.

    > Flanders therefore questions the validity of the verdict, which, according to the government, appears to be far from reality.

    > Importantly, the ruling by the Brussels summary judgment judge states that it is a provisional and urgent decision. That means the appeal now filed does not suspend or put on hold the conditions imposed.

    > Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

  12. And then the secret agreements will rise again made just after ww2… which reset the judges summary… we’re f****** anyway…

  13. Does the Flemish Gov have the mandate to stop this? Or is this leftist Judge trying to be interesting?

  15. Israel will just label the next cargo as diplomatic, so the judge is checkmate.
    Everything keeps going , but this time without any means of controlling or monitoring the cargo,

  16. It would be hypocritical for europe to stop sponsoring the genocide and colonisation of palestine when we did it for 500 years to 75% of the world

  17. This kind of thing is also what people should consider when casually condemning civil disobedience activists.

    Basically they’re people facing potential police brutality etc… To basically compel authorities to abide what they already implicitly admitted was the only right thing to do, when there are lives at stake.

    That’s why people need to stop pretending civil disobedience direct action is some kind of crime, or like a small coup against what the elected politicians were trying to do, “resorting to force to get their way”. It’s really just attempts to stop governments from committing crimes and forcing their elitist agendas on everyone.

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