The Belgian administration has entered into conflict with the US after the ambassador of Donald Trump accused Brussels of antisemitism regarding its circumcision regulations.
The US ambassador to Belgium engaged in talks with the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels following a summons from the Belgian government.
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The meeting was convened after Ambassador Bill White posted on X that «antisemitism is unacceptable in any form and it must be rooted out of our society».
The Belgian government’s response came rapidly and with strong disapproval, as one official told Euronews: «This is not the function of the US ambassador. The law applies equally to everyone; this is Belgian democracy.»
“Describing Belgium as antisemitic is not only incorrect but also dangerous misinformation that detracts from the genuine battle against hatred,” Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot stated in a post on X.
The dispute started in connection with an inquiry into three individuals accused of conducting circumcisions on infant boys without the necessary medical authorization. According to Belgian law, circumcision of infants is allowed only if performed by a doctor or a healthcare professional.
«More than 25,000 medically safe circumcisions were performed in Belgium over the past year,» a source familiar with the matter told Euronews.
Prévot, who summoned the ambassador, was abroad and represented at Tuesday’s meeting by the ministry’s Secretary General, Theodora Gentzis.
Euronews learned that during the meeting on Tuesday afternoon, White repeatedly urged Belgian officials to halt the investigation into the three suspects.
‘Incorrect, offensive, and unacceptable’
Following the 25-minute meeting with White, the ministry released a statement underscoring that White was reminded about the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which outlines an ambassador’s role and its boundaries.
«Personal attacks on Belgian government members and interference in Belgium’s domestic matters violate these fundamental diplomatic principles,» the statement emphasized.
«Belgium values its relationship with the United States highly. However, this interaction must respect our institutions and national sovereignty. Any claims that Belgium is antisemitic are entirely false, offensive, and unacceptable.»
«Fighting antisemitism remains a top priority for Belgium. The country consistently and clearly condemns all forms of antisemitism and racism, both domestically and internationally.“