About a month ago, Israel's Chief Rabbi Kalman Bar held a meeting with a delegation from the European Union. Leading the delegation were Health and Animal Welfare Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi and the EU Ambassador to Israel, Michael Mann. Rabbi Bar raised a series of problems facing Jews in Europe during the meeting, foremost among them restrictions on kosher slaughter and circumcision ceremonies being conducted underground in Belgium.
The background to the claim was the arrest in Antwerp of three mohels about six months ago, on the grounds they were operating without a license. However, Belgium has no official procedure for obtaining a mohel certificate, meaning any circumcision performed without a physician could theoretically be considered illegal.
Rabbi Bar requested that the senior European officials bring about a resolution to the issue. Among other proposals, he suggested that the State of Israel issue licenses for mohels, which would then be recognized by the European Union. Jewish Parliament member Michael Freilich also intervened, reaching out to Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, among other actions. His efforts came to nothing, and the three were put on trial. Sources involved in the affair said Vandenbroucke, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and is a prominent politician in the country, displayed puzzling indifference to the developments.
US Ambassador to Brussels Bill Waite expressed a firm opinion on the matter on Monday. In an extremely sharp tweet – which he wrote on behalf of President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Secretary of State Rubio – Waite claimed, "Antisemitism is not acceptable in any form. Especially, you need to stop NOW the ridiculous and antisemitic 'prosecution' of the three Jewish religious figures (mohels) in Antwerp! They are doing what they have been trained to do for thousands of years."
Waite addressed Vandenbroucke directly as "very rude," in his words, and said, "You need to make a legal determination that will allow members of the Jewish faith to perform their role here in Belgium. This is done in every civilized country as a legal process. Belgium is a civilized country. Stop this unacceptable harassment of the Jewish community here in Antwerp and in Belgium. We are in 2026, you need to enter the 21st century and allow our brothers, the members of Jewish families in Belgium, to legally realize their freedom of religion!"
"Frank – don't wait for this case to end. You told me that was your sneaky tactic in our first meeting, where you refused to shake my hand or take a photo with me in your conference room. The room is named after our great First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. Clearly, you don't like America, the country that fought and tens of thousands of whose sons died for Belgium's freedom twice – in World War I and World War II."
Waite continued writing, "Act now! The world is watching. America is counting on you to do the right thing. Frank, you need to do this now so this case ends!" The ambassador clarified he was not settling for words. "I am traveling to Antwerp next week to meet with these mohels and their families. Frank, you and Conner Rousseau need to come with me!"
The Belgian minister did not remain indebted, and announced Waite would be summoned for a reprimand meeting at the Foreign Ministry. In his response, he wrote, "Any insinuation that Belgium is antisemitic is false, offensive, and unacceptable. Everyone must be able to practice their faith without fear of violence, discrimination, or persecution. Belgian law permits ritual circumcision, when it is performed by a licensed physician under strict standards of health and safety. The specific case mentioned is subject to legal investigation. I refrain from commenting on ongoing proceedings. Labeling Belgium as antisemitic is not only wrong, it is dangerous disinformation that harms the real fight against hatred."
The diplomatic clash did not end there, as Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar entered the picture and wrote, "According to Belgian data, there has been a sharp and continuous rise in antisemitic attacks in the country for more than five years. Jews in Belgium are afraid to wear a kippah in the streets. Two Jewish cemeteries have been desecrated. There was an attempt to set fire to a synagogue in Antwerp."
"Jewish students report ongoing harassment and discrimination. Moreover, a survey by the Anti-Defamation League in Europe shows that antisemitism in Belgium is two to three times more prevalent than in neighboring countries. Suddenly, after thousands of years of practicing circumcision, the mohel community is under attack. Belgian-Jewish citizens residing in Judea and Samaria do not receive consular services, while Belgian Muslims are welcomed."
"Finally, 23 out of 27 European Union countries have a strategic program and dedicated coordinator for fighting antisemitism. Belgium does not have one. Honorable Minister, I understand that the mirror the American ambassador presented to you is not pleasant, but perhaps it would be worthwhile to use this opportunity to look at it carefully and recognize the reality."
The exchange between the three continued when, at its conclusion, Waite invited Saar to join him on a tour in Antwerp next week. Rabbi Bar's office said in response that the restrictions imposed on circumcision are "a severe violation of fundamental rights that evokes feelings of persecution from years past."
