Belgian Minister Sparks Outrage After Refusing Rosh Hashanah Greeting to Jewish Community
A Belgian official’s refusal to extend traditional Rosh Hashanah greetings to the Jewish community, citing Middle East tensions and a personal stance against religious involvement, has sparked outrage, highlighting a broader surge in antisemitism. This incident, coupled with celebrities and singers amplifying pro-Palestinian narratives while ignoring the complexities of the conflict, underscores a troubling trend of antisemitic rhetoric masked as political activism.
For nearly a century, Belgium’s Jewish community has cherished a tradition of receiving Rosh Hashanah greetings from national leaders, shared through community publications. This year, however, Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of Flanders, declined to offer the customary “Shana Tova” greeting, citing “tensions in the Middle East” and later his personal policy of avoiding religious activities. The decision has ignited widespread condemnation, exposing a deeper wave of antisemitism cloaked in political rhetoric, both in Belgium and globally, where celebrities and singers increasingly amplify pro-Palestinian narratives while disregarding the complexities of the war in Gaza.
In response to the Jewish community’s request for a Rosh Hashanah message, Diependaele initially wrote, “Thank you very much for your kind request... After an internal discussion, we regret to inform you that, given the current situation and sensitivities regarding tensions in the Middle East, we are unable to fulfill your request. Anything related, even in the slightest, to this conflict is closely monitored and examined under a magnifying glass.”
The Jewish community was stunned, and the response triggered a firestorm of criticism. Facing backlash, Diependaele issued a second letter, claiming his refusal stemmed from a 15-year principle of not engaging in religious activities: “My refusal is not due to the situation in the Middle East... I have not supported religious activities. I have also never accepted invitations to the Muslim ‘Eid’ holiday. I have also never participated in the ‘Te Deum’ for Catholics, and so on.” Notably, this explanation failed to address why he had not declined similar greetings in the past 14 years.
The Jewish community and political figures expressed deep frustration. MP Sam Van Rooy of the Vlaams Belang party condemned Diependaele’s stance, stating, “To me, this proves it’s madness and that the cabinet of the minister-president of the Flanders region is influenced by extreme leftists who are either Jew-haters or cowards, or a combination of both.” He added, “The letter he sent afterwards rubs salt in the wounds... The minister-president of Flanders is a coward who found more excuses for not wishing Jews a Shana Tova, especially now when Jews are under attack and the level of antisemitism in the streets of Antwerp and Brussels is skyrocketing.”
This controversy unfolds against a broader backdrop of rising antisemitism, particularly in cultural spheres. Celebrities and singers, often with limited understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, have increasingly endorsed pro-Palestinian causes, often echoing Hamas propaganda. This trend, fuelled by social media and performative activism, often ignores the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and took 250 hostages, or the subsequent rise in global anti-Semitic incidents, including vandalism and assaults in Europe. In Belgium, where Antwerp and Brussels host significant Jewish populations, anti-Semitic acts have surged, making Diependaele’s refusal particularly poignant. Critics argue that such actions, whether by politicians or celebrities, normalize antisemitism under the guise of neutrality or advocacy, leaving Jewish communities feeling increasingly isolated during a time of heightened vulnerability.