A diplomatic dispute between Belgium and Israel has intensified after Belgium launched a judicial investigation into ritual circumcisions, drawing sharp

criticism from senior Israeli officials.

The controversy began when U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, Bill White, publicly condemned a probe in Antwerp into alleged irregularities surrounding Jewish ritual circumcisions, describing it as antisemitic. Brussels swiftly responded, reminding the ambassador of the “role and limits” of diplomatic intervention.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar amplified the criticism on social media platform X, highlighting a rise in antisemitic incidents in Belgium, including vandalized cemeteries and threats to synagogues. He claimed Belgian Jews were hesitant to wear kippahs publicly and argued that the investigation unfairly targeted a longstanding religious practice.

Sa’ar also criticized Belgium for suspending consular services for Belgian citizens residing in Israeli settlements and urged the country to implement a more effective national strategy to combat antisemitism. Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, went further, labeling Belgium “increasingly unfit for Jewish life” and thanking Ambassador White for his stance.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot responded directly to the Israeli accusations, defending Belgium’s commitment to its Jewish community. He highlighted reinforced security measures for synagogues and Jewish schools since October 2023 and noted that antisemitic offenses are strictly prosecuted under Belgian law.

Prévot emphasized that the Antwerp investigation followed a complaint from within the Jewish community and pertains to a specific medical practice, clarifying that tens of thousands of ritual circumcisions occur legally each year without interference. On the consular issue, he stressed that services were suspended for Belgian citizens in settlements considered illegal under international law, regardless of religion, and cautioned against conflating Belgium’s foreign policy with antisemitism.

The dispute marks a rare escalation in Belgian-Israeli relations, reflecting the delicate balance between religious freedoms, law enforcement, and international diplomacy. Photo by Sandra Cohen-Rose and Colin Rose from Montreal, Canada, Wikimedia commons.