European Jewish leader to seek meeting with Belgian Interior Minister over plan to remove army protection at Jewish institutions

The European Jewish Association deplores that the decision was taken without consultation with Jewish communities and without a suitable alternative being proposed. EJA Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin rails against decision, saying it makes ‘Zero sense’ and adding that in absence of providing alternative security arrangements, it leaves Jews “wide open with a target sign on our backs”. The Belgian planned move takes place as anti-semitism is increasing in Europe, not decreasing, writes Yossi Lempkowicz.

The head of the Europen Jewish Association (EJA), a Brussels-based umbrella group representing Jewish communities across Europe, has written to Belgian Interior Minister, Annelies Verlinden, seeking an urgent meeting with her to discuss a government plan to remove army protection from Jewish buildings and institutions on 1 September. Rabbi Menachem Margolin, who has learned "with great alarm" the plan to remove army protection through its partner organization the Forum of Jewish organizations in Antwerp and Belgian MP Michael Freilich, will ask the minister for the move to be reconsidered. He is calling for a urgent meeting "in order to find common ground and to try and mitigate the effects of this proposal".

The European Jewish Association deplores that the decision was taken without consultation with Jewish communities and without a suitable alternative being proposed. In Belgium the security threat is currently medium according to the metrics provided by governments own Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis (CUTA). But for Jewish Communities, as well as the American and Israeli embassies, the threat remains “serious and probable”. Army presence at Jewish buildings has been in place since the terrorist attack against the Jewish Museum in Brussels in May 2014 which left four people dead.

In a statement, EJA Chairman Rabbi Margolin said: “The Belgian government has up until now been exemplary in its protection of Jewish Communities. In fact, we at the European Jewish Association have held up the Belgian example as one to be emulated by other member qtates. For this dedication to keeping us safe and secure we have always expressed our utmost gratitude and appreciation."

"Is it also because of this dedication that the decision to remove the army on 1 September makes Zero sense,’’ he added. "Unlike the US and Israeli embassies, Jewish communities do not have access to any State security apparatus," he noted. “It is alarming too that Jewish communities have not even been properly consulted about this move. Nor is the government presently proposing any alternatives. As of now, it leaves Jews wide open and with a target on our backs," deplored Rabbi Margolin. The Belgian planned move takes place as anti-semitism is increasing in Europe, not decreasing.

"Belgium, sadly is not immune to this. The pandemic, the recent Gaza operation and its fallout are worrying Jews enough as it is, without this even added to the equation. Worse, it sends a signal to other European countries to do likewise. I am urging the Belgian government to reconsider this decision or at the very least offer a solution in its stead,” said Rabbi Margolin.

MP Michael Freilich is reportedly proposing a legislation that would see a €3 million fund made available to Jewish communities to increase their security in light of the 1 September plans. It will be urging the government to preserve the same level of security as before. The text of the resolution is to be discussed and voted tomorrow (6 July) in the Parliament’s committee on internal affairs. The Interior Minister’s Office couldn’t be joined for a comment on the plan. Around 35,000 Jews live in Belgium, mainly in Brussels and Antwerp.

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