Rabbi Menachem Margolin reacted to Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo’s response to Belgian Jewish leaders who deplored the consequences on the Jewish community of his policy towards Israel.

He called on the Prime Minister ‘’to come to his senses and show leadership that goes beyond narrow political consideration.’’

 

Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo’s pledge to enhance security measures to protect the Jewish community in the country is a matter of satisfaction ”but in view of the waves of hatred and anti-Semitism dring pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the streets of Brussels and on campuses it is time for action and it is no longer possible to be satisfied with statements,’’ said Rabbi Margolin, Chairman of the European Jewish Association.

In a response to Jewish leaders who had expressed their deep concern regarding Croo’s’’hostility’’ towards Israel and its consequences on the Jewish community, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that anti-Semitism remains condemnable in all circumstances and said he takes the increase in anti-Semitic acts in Belgium and elsewhere very seriously.’’ ‘’ The country has stepped up security measures to protect the Jewish community,’’ he added.

Rabbi Margolin also welcomed De Croo’s announcement that he is in favor of appointing an independent national coordinator for combating antisemitism, a demand made by the European Jewish Association for years.

However, Rabbi Margolin pointed out that in view of the waves of hatred and anti-Semitism dring pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the streets of Brussels and on campuses in Ghent and Leuven, ‘’it is time for action and it is no longer possible to be satisfied with statements.’’

‘’The confusion between the Hamas terrorists who kill old men, rape young women and decapitate babies and the army that tries to fight them is not only problematic for Israel but is a harbinger for the extremists here on our streets,’’ said Margolin;

He continued, ‘’A leader who does not understand this ignores a very tangible danger that is already blackening in the present for Belgian society and its citizens.  If at the beginning of the war in Gaza there were those who said that the West was next in line, now, in view of the inaction of leaders in Europe, terrorism is already here.’’

Rabbi Margolin concluded by saying that ‘’whoever thinks that this is only against Jews should read the brazen threats of the “student” organizations in Ghent, calling on the Belgian Prime Minister ‘’to come to his senses and show leadership that goes beyond narrow political consideration.’’

The European Jewish Association initiates and coordinates the activities of dozens of Jewish organizations to combat anti-Semitism and for freedom of religion and worship in Europe.

The organization, which defines itself as the “Jewish voice of Europe,” holds conferences to raise awareness of the Holocaust and its lessons for EU leaders.