Against the backdrop of the Israel-Gaza war Flemish home affairs minister Bart Somers (Flemish liberal) has asked local comprehensive security cells to meet. The cells are consultative bodies grouping experts from various fields. They are being asked to consider how the possible ramifications of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be dealt with and how violence can be prevented.
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Israel-Gaza War: Home minister instructs local security cells to meet
Colin Clapson
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Mr Somers’s request, in the form of a circular letter, is being accompanied by the latest report from the OCAD, the government body that monitors threats in Belgium. The head of OCAD says that the threat level will probably remain at level 3 – meaning the threat is serious – for some considerable time.
“The Gaza crisis has created an emotional trigger event, an event that has a serious emotional impact on people also in Belgium” says Gert Vercauteren. “In this climate there is a big risk that certain people will vent their anger or frustration in a violent way. We have noticed an increase in reported threats”.
The local comprehensive security cells group experts from various fields and can help to identify people who are being radicalised in an early phase and organise follow-up for these people.
The cells were created following the IS crisis. “Prevention is discussed on the basis of concrete cases. When prevention no longer works, when there is a threat, it becomes a police matter. The instrument works well and exists in 89% of municipalities” says minister Somers.
“It’s important to discuss which signals have been received from angry people and to see how escalation of violence can be prevented”.
“Specialised experts can be consulted. There is a project to combat polarisation. Other experts are specialised in social media, in dealing with radicalised youngsters and providing psychological support”.
The minister acknowledges the conflict has fuelled the emotions: “Protests are legitimate, but people who end up in erroneous patterns of thinking as a result of frustration and encouraged via social media, need to be spoken with at an early stadium”.
Minister Somers is aware several incidents have already occurred: “A man wanting to do more than protest was detained in Brussels, but I believe that democratic organisations possess sufficient structures to channel indignation. This is what you need in a rules-based society”.