The Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot (Francophone centrist) has summoned the US Ambassador Bill White for a meeting in response to comment Mr White made on the social media platform X.
In a post on X on Monday Ambassador White launched an attack on the Federal Government and called on Belgium to stop the “ridiculous and antisemitic persecution of Jewish circumcisers in Antwerp”.
In a response Mr Prévot says that that any suggestion that Belgium is antisemitic is incorrect, insulting and unacceptable. The Foreign Minister adds that Belgium resolutely condemns antisemitism. “The fight against antisemitism and all forms of hate and discrimination is an absolute priority for Belgium. Everyone must be able to practice their religion without fear of violence, discrimination, or persecution. That is a cornerstone of our constitutional state. It is non-negotiable.”
“Belgian law permits ritual circumcisions if they are performed by a qualified doctor under strict health and safety standards. The specific case referred to is the subject of a judicial investigation. I refrain from commenting on ongoing legal proceedings”.
“Labelling Belgium as anti-Semitic is not only wrong, it is dangerous disinformation that undermines the real fight against hatred”.
“As for the comments made by the US Ambassador, they are unacceptable. An ambassador accredited to Belgium has a responsibility to respect our institutions, our elected representatives, and the independence of our judiciary. Personal attacks on a Belgian minister and interference in judicial matters violate the basic norms of diplomacy”.
The ambassador has been summoned for a meeting with Mr Prévot on Tuesday afternoon.
The Belgian Foreign Minister concluded by saying that “Belgium is open to dialogue with all its partners. However, interference in our democratic institutions and unfounded accusations cross a line that cannot be crossed. Respect for sovereignty works both ways”.
Ambassador Bill White responds to Mr Prévot
Ahead of their meeting, Ambassador White has responded to Mr Prévot’s comments. In a lengthy post on the social media platform X, he maintains his position that anti-Semitism is at play here. Speaking about the ongoing criminal investigation into the three ritual circumcisers from Antwerp, Mr White says that this is “ABSOLUTELY a matter of anti-Semitism. Either you have to change the accreditation procedure, or you have to label the prosecution of these three wonderful, religiously qualified, and amazing men as anti-Semitism”.
Mr White says that their prosecution is “selective.” “Thousands of safe, qualified mohel procedures take place in Belgium. So why this time, why these three mohels, why in Antwerp, the large diaspora of beautiful Jewish families here in Belgium, and why now?”
The US Ambassador says he went to discuss the matter with Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (Flemish Vandenbroucke) and that Mr Vandenbroucke “does not like my wonderful president.” The Federal Health Minister Vandenbroucke reportedly told Ambassador White that wanted to wait for the outcome of the case.
Given that he considers the case against the circumcisers to be antisemitic it is his “duty” to call for this procedure to be changed.