Belgian FM offers to visit Israel to discuss arrest of mohels; Sa’ar: Brussels has no plan to fight antisemitism

After Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accuses Belgium of using criminal law “to prosecute Jews for practicing Judaism” by issuing charges against three mohels — people who perform ritual circumcision — Belgium’s top diplomat says the accusation is defamatory, and that he would be happy to come to Israel to discuss the issue.

“Enough with these caricatures,” writes Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot on X.

“In Belgium, the judiciary is independent and makes its decisions — whether one agrees with them or not — free from any political influence,” he continues. “I recall that the proceedings in question were initiated by representatives of the Jewish community themselves. To portray those as a country’s desire to undermine the religious freedom of Jews is defamatory. This freedom has never been called into question and never will be in our country. Our Constitution protects it.”

“Since you yourself recently urged against conducting diplomacy via Twitter,” Prevot proposes, “I suggest that we discuss all these issues during a meeting in Israel at a time that suits you best, in order to put an end to any misinterpretations.”

The three Jewish mohels were arrested last summer in a raid.

Sa’ar responds that Prevot’s comments “completely miss the point.”

“There should never have been such an investigation, had the issue of Brit Milah been regulated like in other European countries that respect Jewish religious freedom,” he says.

“Especially so in a country with one of the oldest Jewish communities in Europe,” he concludes. “Had Belgium had a strategic plan to fight antisemitism and foster Jewish life, you might have known this. Alas, it doesn’t.”