Belgium summons US ambassador over ‘anti-Semitism’ claim

Belgium has summoned the United States ambassador in Brussels after he accused the Belgian government of “anti-Semitism”.

The US ambassador to Brussels, Bill White, was called to the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to protest remarks in which he described the government as anti-Semitic.

On 14 May, Belgian police carried out raids at several addresses in Antwerp as part of an investigation into alleged illegal circumcision practices. Prosecutors opened an inquiry into three Jewish circumcisers, known as mohels.

On Monday, the US ambassador called for the investigation to be ended, arguing that the measure was anti-Semitic.

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Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Maxime Prévot, rejected the accusation in a post on the social media platform X. He said: “Any claim that Belgium is showing anti-Semitic attitudes is false, offensive and unacceptable.”

He added that the ambassador had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry and stressed that the Belgian authorities firmly rejected White’s comments.

“An ambassador accredited to Belgium has a responsibility to respect our institutions, our elected representatives, and the independence of our judicial system,” Prévot said.

Responding to remarks in which White criticised Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, Prévot said: “Personal attacks against a Belgian minister and interference in judicial matters violate basic diplomatic norms.” 

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