Over 300 participants gathered in Antwerp this week for an international conference against antisemitism, warning that Belgium has become a central hub of Jew-hatred in Europe, with Jewish life under growing threat.
A major international conference against antisemitism convened in Antwerp this week, drawing more than 300 participants in response to what organizers described as a dramatic surge in hatred of Jews across Belgium.
“Belgium is the Laboratory of European Antisemitism”
The Jewish Information and Documentation Center (JID) painted a stark picture:
- Michel Kotk declared: “Jews have been declared animals in Belgium.”
- Marten Boudry of Ghent University warned: “The academic world is poisoned.”
- Prof. Mark Kogan, international law expert, branded Belgium “the laboratory of European antisemitism.”
Imam Hassan Chalghoumi, president of the French Council of Imams, also spoke forcefully:
“There can be no negotiation with radical Islam.”
Distorted Education & Rising Fear
Nigel Godrich of the European Coalition for Israel accused Belgian schools of rewriting history and world maps, fueling antisemitic narratives.
Ralph Fais, JID’s deputy head, said Belgian Jews — numbering about 30,000 — once lived quietly but now face daily antisemitism:
“Many are thinking about moving to Israel or the United States.”
High-Level Attendance
Among those present were:
- Bart De Wever, Prime Minister of Belgium
- Idit Rosenzweig, Israel’s Ambassador to Belgium
- Rabbi Pinchas Padwa, who wished De Wever a blessed New Year
Discussions highlighted the spread of antisemitism across education, politics, media, and the judiciary. Belgium’s critical stance toward Israel and tolerance of antisemitic demonstrations were identified as aggravating factors.
“A Many-Headed Monster”
The central message of the conference: antisemitism must be fought with unity and determination. Organizers described it as “the many-headed monster of Jew-hatred” now rising openly in Belgium.
