Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday criticized his Belgian counterpart, 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.
Netanyahu's government has been angered by promises from France, Britain, Canada, Australia and now Belgium to formally recognize a Palestinian state during a meeting of world leaders this month at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever "wants to feed the terrorist crocodile before it devours Belgium," the Israeli prime minister's office wrote on its official Twitter account.
Israel will continue to defend itself, she added.
Netanyahu also attacked Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last month, also calling him "weak" after Australia announced it would recognize a Palestinian state and then banned a far-right Israeli lawmaker from entering the country.
Palestinians have long sought the creation of their own state in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
