Dispute between the Prime Minister of Belgium and the US ambassador. There were accusations of anti-Semitism
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever strongly rejected the criticism of the American ambassador to Belgium, Bill White, who accused Belgium of anti-Semitism.
US ambassador accuses Belgium of anti-Semitism. The Prime Minister's decisive reaction
On Wednesday morning, White described the Antwerp prosecutor's recommendation to bring charges against the two mohels as “disgraceful,” adding: “Belgium will now be seen around the world as an anti-Semitic state. Until this case is resolved, it cannot be avoided.”
“The Trump administration condemns this legal proceeding and also condemns the political passivity of the Belgian government in seeking a solution with the beautiful Jewish communities here in Belgium,” he wrote on the X platform.
— Belgium is not an anti-Semitic country, this is absurd, De Wever said on Wednesday in an interview with VRT News. — A diplomat must decide for himself how he performs his duties, but in my opinion this does not bring much value, he pointed out.
De Wever, chairman of the center-right New Flemish Alliance, defended the prosecutor's decision. — Circumcision is central to Judaism and Islam, but equally important are the quality standards of our legislation. You have to reconcile these two things. What you must not do is start a social uproar over it, making harsh accusations of anti-Semitism. This adds absolutely nothing, he added.
Belgian politicians attack the US ambassador
Belgium's centrist foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, earlier Wednesday called White's comments “inappropriate” and asked: “Would you consider it acceptable if our ambassador in Washington behaved in the same way?”
Prevot emphasized the independence of the Belgian justice system, while De Wever said that “the law obviously stands above every religion and above every worldview or ideology.”
De Wever's predecessor, Elio Di Rupo, now an MEP for the center-left Alliance of Progressive Socialists and Democrats, also reacted strongly.
“Your interference in Belgian affairs and your statements are unacceptable,” he said to the ambassador. — If I were the Prime Minister of Belgium and the ambassador said such words, I would consider him persona non grata.
Businessman and one of the main donors to Donald Trump's campaign.
US President Donald Trump appointed businessman White as ambassador in December 2024. White was a major donor to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
