Belgium Criticizes US Ambassador for Alleged ‘Dangerous Disinformation’

Belgium Summons US Ambassador Over Antisemitism Accusations in Rare Diplomatic Dispute

Belgium has formally summoned the United States ambassador following a controversial social media post in which he accused the country of antisemitic prosecution against Jewish Belgians, marking an unusual diplomatic tension between the longtime allies.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday to address the situation directly. “Labeling Belgium as antisemitic is not just wrong, it’s dangerous disinformation that undermines the real fight against hatred,” Prevot stated. The diplomatic summons represents an extraordinary step between nations that have historically maintained strong relations.

“An ambassador accredited to Belgium has a responsibility to respect our institutions, our elected representatives, and the independence of our judicial system,” Prevot continued. “Personal attacks against a Belgian minister and interference in judicial matters violate basic diplomatic norms.”

The dispute centers around an ongoing investigation in Antwerp, one of Europe’s historic Jewish centers and Belgium’s second-largest city. According to national broadcaster VRT, Belgian authorities are investigating three men suspected of performing circumcisions without certified medical training, raising public health concerns.

US Ambassador Bill White characterized this investigation on social media platform X as “unacceptable harassment of the Jewish community here in Antwerp and in Belgium.” The ambassador announced his intention to visit the three accused men in Antwerp and publicly invited Belgium’s minister of health to join him, escalating the diplomatic tension.

In his post, White called on Belgium to “make a legal provision to allow Jewish religious mohels to perform their duties here in Belgium.” A mohel is a Jewish religious officiant specifically trained in circumcision, which is considered a fundamental practice in Judaism. The ritual is so central to Jewish identity that without it, observant Jews typically cannot participate in key life ceremonies including bar mitzvahs, Jewish weddings, or burial in Jewish cemeteries.

Prevot defended Belgian policies, explaining that “Belgian law permits ritual circumcision when performed by a qualified physician under strict health and safety standards.” The foreign minister declined to comment further on the specific case, citing the ongoing investigation.

This diplomatic dispute occurs against a backdrop of rising concerns about antisemitism across Europe, particularly following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza. Several European countries have reported increases in antisemitic incidents over the past year.

Belgium has a complex relationship with its Jewish community, which numbers approximately 30,000 people, with many concentrated in Antwerp’s diamond district. The country has grappled with balancing religious freedoms against health regulations and animal welfare concerns, previously generating controversy over restrictions on kosher slaughter methods.

Diplomatic summons are considered serious diplomatic measures typically reserved for grave disagreements between nations. That such a step has been taken between NATO allies highlights the sensitivity surrounding issues of religious practice and accusations of antisemitism.

For the United States and Belgium, who collaborate extensively on security, trade, and within multilateral organizations like NATO and the United Nations, this unusual public disagreement represents a delicate diplomatic challenge that both sides will likely seek to manage carefully in the coming days.

Neither the US State Department nor the embassy in Brussels has issued additional statements regarding the ambassador’s summons or whether there would be any change to the ambassador’s planned visit to the men under investigation in Antwerp.