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Belgium summons U.S. ambassador over tweet accusing kingdom of antisemitism
Belgium's Foreign Minister called the ambassador's antisemitism accusations dangerous disinformation amid ongoing legal probes into ritual circumcision practices in Antwerp.
- On Monday, U.S. Ambassador Bill White posted on X urging Frank Vanenbroucke to allow Jewish mohels to perform circumcisions and said he will travel to Antwerp next week.
- Under Belgian law circumcisions must be done by licensed medical professionals, with some religious exemptions, following a 2024 police complaint by Moshe Friedman and police raids in Antwerp's Jewish Quarter last May.
- The ambassador, who was confirmed last fall, called the cases a `RIDICULOUS AND ANTI SEMITIC 'PROSECUTION'` speaking on behalf of Trump administration officials, despite past criticism over amplifying posts by far-right Belgian activist Dries Van Langenhove and his veterans advocacy background.
- Belgian officials did not immediately respond while the ongoing prosecution faces criticism from the European Jewish Association and denial of wrongdoing by the Haredi Orthodox community.
- Broader context includes public-health warnings that metzitzah b'peh can risk infant infection, with several years ago New York City infections, and Europe recently limited religious exemptions including its 2024 kosher-slaughter ruling.
40 Articles
40 Articles
Belgium has severely called the U.S. ambassador to Brussels, Bill White, to order this Tuesday after he accused the country of “anti-Semitism” and its Health Minister, Frank Vandenbrouke, of “bullying the Jewish community” for the open judicial investigation against three Jewish circumcisers who lacked medical leave, remarks that Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has described as “unacceptable.” Continue reading
The Belgian government has called the American ambassador, who had previously criticised an investigation into the controversial practices of some Jewish tailors.
Belgium Slams US Ambassador Over 'Dangerous Disinformation'
Belgium summoned the US ambassador on Tuesday over a social media post where he accused the country of antisemitic prosecution of Jewish Belgians, the kingdom's foreign minister said. "Labeling Belgium as antisemitic is not just wrong, it's dangerous disinformation that undermines the real fight against hatred," said Belgian Foreign Minister...
Trump’s Ambassador to Belgium Is Summoned After Accusing Officials of Antisemitism
Belgium’s government summoned President Trump’s ambassador after he accused his host nation of antisemitism and criticized a Belgian official in a series of posts on social media. The expected meeting Tuesday between the ambassador, Bill White, and Belgian officials comes at a moment of heightened tension as the Trump administration paints governments across Europe as out of line with American values. But while the criticism is typically about E…
Belgium summons US ambassador in dispute over antisemitism accusations
In a lengthy post on X, US ambassador to Belgium Bill White accused the country of antisemitic prosecution of Jewish Belgians. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot called the accusation "dangerous disinformation".
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