Belgian government anti-racist outfit accused of anti-semitism

A police commissioner has filed a complaint about antisemitic statements at a seminar on multiculturalism (Source: Joods Actueel - Centrum Gelijke Kansen nu Zelf aangeklaagd wegens racisme)

It is with immense incredulity that senior police officers heard unacceptable racist, anti-semitic and Holocaust denial statements at a course run by the Centre for Equal Opportunities and the Fight against Racism (CECLR). It is unfortunate that CECLR staff, an organisation which reports to the Prime Minister and is meant to combat racism (their record on anti-semitism is very poor) believe in vicious anti-Jewish stereotypes and are prepared to make them known in public to people who in no way share their views - the vast majority of the Belgian population firmly rejects such views. The gay community was also the target of unflattering judgments. But it was against the Jews that a 50-year-old Turkish-born female anti-racist "expert" launched a tirade:

"These people [the Jews] can get away with anything because they have money and financial power, but they also exploit our guilt [meaning the Holocaust]."

Commissioner David Vroome (43) [photo] of the Federal Police of Brussels and twenty senior colleagues attended a course hosted at the Geruzet centre in Brussels. The course on multiculturalism was given by two instructors from the CECLR.

"Never in my life have I heard such remarks about the Jewish community", said Vroom to Joods Actueel. "And the fact that they came from a CECLR employee makes matters even worse."

Police commissioner Vroom, who is a lawyer by training and worked as a lawyer in Antwerp and Brussels, recounts the scene:

"At one point we were discussing the ethnic and cultural groups in our society. It was indicated that the Chinese, the Japanese and the Eurocrats [EU officials] who live in Brussels go to their own shops and restaurants and may also have different sets of rules and behavior. This led us to the Jewish community and then the speaker made shocking statements. My attention was caught when she mentioned the "financial power" that prompts Jews to believe that they can get away with anything". But when I heard her remark that "Jews always hark back to the past" - a clear reference to the Holocaust - I was shocked. Especially since she said "that Belgium has nothing to do with it." [1].

"It caught the attention of the delegates in the room," testified another police commissioner who attended the course and who wants to remain anonymous. "The silence that followed was such that you could hear your neighbours breathing and all looked in disbelief. The other CECLR female lecturer did not react and the course continued as if nothing had happened."

MORE TO FOLLOW

The record of CECLR as regards anti-Semitism is far from satisfactory. See: Jozef De Witte, an anti Israel militant, appointed director of the Center for Equal Opportunity in 2004)

[1] It is estimated that 67,000 Jews were living in Belgium before the war. 25,000 Jews were deported, including 5,093 children of which 145 were under two years old. Of the 25,000 deported, 1,205 survived: "One deported Jew out of five was under 16. There are even children under 2. The youngest, who left in the twentieth convoy, and was not forty days old. " (historian Maxime Steinberg). "Under conditions generally very sordid men, women, children and the elderly were parked in camps that served as an antechamber to the Nazi death camps: Drancy in France, the Dossin barracks in Mechelen [Malines], Belgium [situated close the Archdiocese ...], Westerbork in the Netherlands or Italy Fossoli are among the most famous." After the war, 25,000 Jews were living in Belgium and nowadays there are between 35,000 and 40,000. Several studies have shown Belgian authorities' involvement in in the Holocaust. There are more than 1,500 Righteous in Belgium.  See HERE.

Cross-posted in French (Belgique: le Centre pour l'Egalité des chances est accusé de racisme)

Palestinian Authority unhappy with Gilad Shalit's release terms, complains to Europe

Issa Qaraqe came to Brussels with a nine other people and was also received by the Belgian parliament.  He told Belgian newspaper Le Soir: "At least people listen to me here in Brussels. European parliamentarians, European Commission senior officials, Catherine Ashton cabinet, the two chambers of the Belgian Parliament and several organisations have received me and listened to me. My message is to plead with them to put pressure on Israel - and if needs be to reconsider the association agreements that include a clause on human rights - to make this State [of Israel] respects the rights of prisoners on the one hand (those Gaza have no right to family visits, for example) and their release of the other. Israel considers itself above international law and this is everybody's concern". As to Gilad Shalit's release the minister, who spent ten years in detention in Israel, claimed that it sent the wrong signal that the only way to free Palestinian prisoners requires the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers.

Qaraqe Calls on European Parliament to Investigate Palestinian Prisoners Situation
BRUSSELS, December 6, 2011 (WAFA) - Minister of Detainees and Ex-Detainees, Issa Qaraqe, Tuesday called on the European parliament to send a fact-finding committee to investigate Palestinian prisoners’ conditions and suffering in Israeli jails.

In a meeting in Brussels with Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, Tokia Saïfi [a former French Minister in Jacques Chirac's government], Qaraqe gave a detailed description of the difficult situation prisoners face in Israeli jails, which violates all international laws and humanitarian values.

He added that Israel does not care for any criticism regarding its violent and inhumane measures against prisoners, including 23 members of the Palestinian parliament, who are also considered international parliamentarians and cannot be detained under any justification.

Qaraqa said there is an unjustified delay by the European parliament in taking the required decisions to insure the protection of prisoners.

He stressed the need for the European parliament to support the Palestinian bid to the United Nations in order to determine the legal status of prisoners, and to be able to protect them in accordance with the relevant laws.

On her part, Saifi said she will support the request to send a fact-finding committee to the Israeli prisons as soon as possible, stressing the need to get all the information for the parliament in dealing with the prisoners’ issue.

Belgium's New Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo and the Jews

Please note that former Belgian PM Yves Leterme (Flemish) never expressed such disdain.  On the contrary.  See his comments on the right-hand column of this blog.

Newly appointed Belgian PM Elio di Rupo stated in January 2009:

Killing in cold blood: "What the Israeli government is doing in cold blood - killing innocent people, killing women and children - is totally unacceptable and I think that what happened in some parts of the world, I mean some people were dragged before international courts, should happen to those men and women who are responsible for what is being done [in Gaza]. There is nothing that can justify killing civilians. Nothing can justify killing children, women ... people like you and me. [...] I believe that one day or another they will be brought to justice. "

Jews are remorseless: "I must tell you that I have more than sympathy for the Jewish population, I feel a form of love for them. But I also wish that the Palestinians live in prosperity and peace. And this cold blooded and remorseless attitude, while witnessing schools being destroyed and all those deaths, is unacceptable. It is totally unacceptable."  Soon after (March 2009) a Belgian Socialist (held in high regard by Mr Di Rupo) Pierre Galand (see below) created a ferociouly anti-Israel kangaroo court: the Russell tribunal on Palestine. Here. [1]

"I complained that while the Flemish Parliament maintained commercial and cultural treaties with Israel, similar agreements had been rejected by the Walloon and Brussels Parliaments.Wallonia had however, such agreements with Libya and Cuba. Di Rupo answered that he would correct this after the elections; yet he did nothing."

Israel's former ambassador to Belgium, Jehudi Kinar [photo]: "Di Rupo once said that he had not known there were poor Jews."  Interview by Dr. Manfred Gerstenfeld.

"Belgium is a country with a complex political system that is difficult to analyze. It is a federal state and there are tensions between its two major populations, the Dutch-speaking Flemish and the French-speaking Walloons.

Now, 540 days after the last parliamentary elections, the Wallonian Socialist leader Elio di Rupo has been appointed prime minister of a broad six-partcoalition. An analysis of his and his party’s hostile attitude toward Israel for many years already, makes it easier to understand how he might conduct himself in future."

Jehudi Kinar was the Israeli Ambassador to Belgium and Luxemburg from 2003 until the end of 2007. Before that, he had foreign postings in the Netherlands, Germany, the United States, and Canada.

"The Socialist Party (PS) is currently the dominant party in Wallonia. Di Rupo was a big disappointment for me, yet I should have known better. After he returned from Israel in 1999 when he was Prime Minister of the Walloon Region Di Rupo said that he ‘had not known that there are poor Jews’.

During our first meeting I complained that while the Flemish Parliament maintained commercial and cultural treaties with Israel, similar agreements had been rejected by the Walloon and Brussels Parliaments.Wallonia had however, such agreements with Libya and Cuba. Di Rupo answered that he would correct this after the elections; yet he did nothing.

“We had several other bad experiences with the Socialists. In 2001, a politically motivated court case was brought against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Israeli Generals Rafael Eitan and Amos Yaron, regarding their alleged involvement in the murders of Palestinians by Christian militia in the Lebanese refugee camps Sabra and Shatilla. We won in the District Court. [2]  Then in 2003, the Wallonian and Flemish Socialists, the Greens and the CDH – a Wallonian former Christian party — passed a rare retroactive change of law in the Senate which enabled prosecution of non-Belgian citizens for crimes committed elsewhere.

Belgian Jewish teen threatened with more violence changes school (update)

Update: Océane, the 13-year-old victim, received numerous threats this week - text messages, facebook and emails.  Her father is outraged and indicated that she will change schools.   Typically, the victim has to leave.  She and her sister were the only Jewish pupils in the school.  Her sister who is 16 and can defend herself better will remain in the school.

Background: Belgian Jews in shock over beating of 13-year-old girl (23/11/2011)

Some details have emerged since the incident was revealed.  Her father is Jewish and her mother is not.  But to all intents and purposes she is considered by her aggressors as being a "dirty Jew".  Oceane told a Flemish TV channel that for youngsters the word Jew has become an insult.  While she was being beatean only her friend tried to help, other teenagers who were at the scene just looked on.  She has been called several times "Dirty Jew", but it's the first time she was beaten.  Julien Klener warned that violence against Jews has become common in Brussels and that victims don't bother to report. Brussels Jewish parliamentarian, and author of the only book about contemporary antisemitism in Belgium, Viviane Teitelbaum indicated that she had received lots of emails from parents telling that their children are harrassed. Some have had to change school. Ms. Teitelbaum stated that time has come to ring alarm bells and make sure that antisemites cannot behave in the knowledge that their behaviour will go unpunished.  

Things are indeed unsettling to say the least.  A Belgian highschool teacher Pierre Piccinin complained on Facebook that he was being persecuted by the Jewish mafia and that soon fear will switch sides - meaning that soon it will be the Jews who will be afraid.  He has made several anti-Jewish remarks.  There were no reactions at all and he has now created an organisation to protect freedom of speech which he assumes the Jewish mafia is trying to take away from him and other like-minded people.

Arutz Sheva 7: Five Muslim Moroccan girls in Belgium beat a 13-year-old classmate, called her a "dirty Jew” and told her to "return your country.”

The girl, Oceane Sluijzer, has filed a complaint with police after the anti-Semitic attack at a sports training center. The attackers were identified and questioned by police.

Jewish legislator Viviane Teitelbaum of Brussels denounced the "silence" of political leaders and most of media after this attack.

Israeli law-makers verbally assaulted in Brussels

Mks Castigated in Brussels Restaurant

Some MKs participating in the Conference of the European Parliament in Brussels were verbally abused by a group of anti-Israel activists. MKs Anastasia Michaeli [photo], Yaakov Edri, Daniel Ben Simon, and Nachman Shai reported the assault at the entrance to a restaurant, but stressed that it was non-physical. (Maariv)

Belgian Jews in shock over beating of 13-year-old girl

Some details have emerged since the incident was revealed.  Her father is Jewish and her mother is not.  But to all intents and purposes she is considered by her aggressors as being a "dirty Jew".  Oceane told a Flemish TV channel that for youngsters the word Jew has become an insult.  While she was being beatean only her friend tried to help, other teenagers who were at the scene just looked on.  She has been called several times "Dirty Jew", but it's the first time she was beaten.  Julien Klener warned that violence against Jews has become common in Brussels and that victims don't bother to report. Brussels Jewish parliamentarian, and author of the only book about contemporary antisemitism in Belgium, Viviane Teitelbaum indicated that she had received lots of emails from parents telling that their children are harrassed. Some have had to change school. Ms. Teitelbaum stated that time has come to ring alarm bells and make sure that antisemites cannot behave in the knowledge that their behaviour will go unpunished.  

Things are indeed unsettling to say the least.  A Belgian highschool teacher Pierre Piccinin complained on Facebook that he was being persecuted by the Jewish mafia and that soon fear will switch sides - meaning that soon it will be the Jews who will be afraid.  He has made several anti-Jewish remarks.  There were no reactions at all and he has now created an organisation to protect freedom of speech which he assumes the Jewish mafia is trying to take away from him and other like-minded people.

Arutz Sheva 7: Five Muslim Moroccan girls in Belgium beat a 13-year-old classmate, called her a "dirty Jew” and told her to "return your country.”

The girl, Oceane Sluijzer, has filed a complaint with police after the anti-Semitic attack at a sports training center. The attackers were identified and questioned by police.

Jewish legislator Viviane Teitelbaum of Brussels denounced the "silence" of political leaders and most of media after this attack.

Brussels: a 13-year-old girl beaten because she is Jewish

After training at a sports center in a residential area in Brussels (Neder-Over-Hembeek), a Jewish girl aged 13 was getting ready to leave with a friend when a dispute broke out with five girls (from Morocco). The Jewish teen complained she was fed up with the girls making disparaging remarks about her and her family.

They told her to shut up and called her "a dirty Jew". One of the girls splapped her twice in the face. The little girl wanted to leave in order to avoid an escalation, but the same girl repeated "shut up you dirty Jew and go back to your country".  The five girls then grabbed her by the hair and punched her head on her knees. Blows fell from on all sides and was unable to defend herself against the five other girls.

The incident was reported to the police in Brussels. Her tormentors have been identified and the police will investigate the case.

Source: antisemitisme.be

Meet the Belgian 'Checkpoint Singers'

Here they are

If you happen to be in Brussels on November 25, dont miss the CheckPoint singers. They will be performing and telling their trip to the "occupied territories" and explain once again that Israelis are monsters.  They will speak of "checkpoints, the wall, the theft of land by the colonialists, the struggle for water and land, detention, infrastructure apartheid. We brought our songs to Palestine. Now we are bearing witness in front of you in the hope for increased solidarity towards the Palestinian people."

The event also includes a visit to the "Cast Lead" - more Israel-bashing - exhibition/project.

The whole thing is supported by the Belgian government and obviously paid by the unsuspecting and reluctant tax-payer.

Is Belgium endorsing the 'Israel Apartheid State' concept?

"To attack Israel by using the word "apartheid" is therefore to deracialise a racist concept, and it runs the risk of inviting anyone who visits, or truly understands, Israel to say that if this is apartheid, apartheid must have been a perfectly reasonable system. Hendrik Verwoerd will laugh from the depths of hell. To be fair, some of the more cunning operators inside the Israeli-apartheid brigade are aware of this." (Robin Shepherd)

It looks as though Belgium endorsing the 'Israel Apartheid State' concept. A press conference is being held tomorrow to present the findings of the third session of Russell Tribunal for Palestine held in Cape Town.  See NGO Monitor report: HERE and more HERE. The findings: "The Tribunal finds that Israel subjects the Palestinian people to an institutionalised regime of domination amounting to apartheid as defined under international law. [...] the Tribunal concludes that Israel’s rule over the Palestinian people, wherever they reside, collectively amounts to a single integrated regime of apartheid."

The kangaroo court was created by a Belgian Pierre Galand.  The press conference will take place at the De Markten Theatre "the cultural centre in the heart of Brussels" - run by the Flemish authorities.  An anti-Israel and anti-US exhibition ("project") "Cast Lead #2" is alsoo being shown now at De Markten.

In a full two year period since this charade has been going on Jewish leaders have not raised a single protest and ignored it.  The South African Jewish community has to be commended for having ensured that the charade was a failure.  The cartoon below is by Carlos Latuff.

Belgian Israel haters using children to demonize Israel

It is not only in Palestine that children used as tools to demonize Israel.  In Belgium too.  A bunch of boycotters (mainly female) went to the Food Fair held in Brussels with a small boy who was made to hand out leaflets calling for the boycott of Israel.  To illustrate their hatred, the militants played a song by French singer Abdel Azizi : "Zionism is the gangrene all the way from Tel Aviv to Paris". It is not the first time that small children are used in this way - and obviously nobody cares.  Not even those entrusted with the welfare of children.

Anti-Israel Julian Schnabel film feted at European Parliament

The European Parliament looks definitely much more like the UN than the US House of Representatives.

The Brussels-based prestigious Boghossian Foundation (created by two Armenian-Lebanese brothers in the jewelry business) whose aim is to foster the "dialogue between between the Oriental and Occidental cultures" has organised the showing of American film director Julian Schnabel anti-Israel film at the European Parliament.  Schnabel and his girlfriend were flown in to attend the event.

In a letter to the President of the Parliament,  Diane Hennebert, of the Foundation wrote:

"Given that Julian Schnabel is famous internationally and that he is of Jewish of background [culture], we are of the opinion that this film deserves our attention and that it illustrates the desire for peace and reconciliation between peoples locked in conflict. " 

"As to the funding of the event [...] the Boghossian Foundation is willing to defray all the necessary expenses to ensure the success of the event (travel, accommodation, invitations, press kit, projection, cocktail party, ...)."

Obviously the debate is not so much about the merits of the film than the fact that Europeans are totally obsessed and willing to go to any lengths to demonise Israel.  Not only is the anti-Israel output impressive but Europeans will give a platform to anyone from outside to Europe - preferably famous and Jewish (as the letter states) - who is willing to demonise Israel.

- "Miral" director hints that all critics are part of a conspiracy
- Movie Review: Julian Schnabel’s Anti-Israel Propaganda “Miral”
- AJC Review of Miral

La fondation Boghossian présente un film anti-Israël de Julian Schnabel au Parlement européen

Belgium: huge Palestinian flag erected in Brussels

EU Foreign Ministers are meeting Monday at the Justus Lipsius EU Council building in Brussels. At this occasion, anti-Israel Belgian activists erected a large Palestinian flag in front of the EU Council and European Commission headquarters in order to encourage the EU to recognize a Palestinian state at an expected vote at the United Nations later this year.

A Belgian artist did the installation.

More HERE

Saudi Arabia opposes presence of Israel Ambassador at Belgian trade fair!

"It's true, the Embassador is not welcome.  Saudi Arabia is the guest country this year ... and her presence is much too sensitive".

Belgian Jewish magazine Joods Actueel reports that the Israel Embassador to Belgium, who had received an invitation to attend the inauguration of the largest Flemish trade fair in Gent, had been 'disinvited' following objections from Saudi Arabia.  Around 100.000 people are expected to visit the fair.

"As the guest of honour and the only Arab country Saudi Arabia will be present at International Accenta Fair 2011. Saudi Arabia will enjoy a strategic presence to meet professionals from the public and private sectors in Europe."

Israel Embassador "disinvited"
The Embassador, Tamar Samash, who will soon be returning to Israel, recently told a newspaper that she is the only Embassador in Belgium who is 'disinvited' on the pretext that her presence would pose a security risk.  In this case, the organizers gave in to pressure by a foreign country, Saudi Arabia.  Belgium has very strong links with Saudi Arabia in spite of the fact that it doesn't qualify as a great democracy...

Kirsten Karlsson, the spokesperson for the Gent trade fair, told Joods Actueel: "It's true, the Embassador is not welcome.  ... Saudi Arabia is the guest country this year ... and her presence is much too sensitive".

This week:

Brussels: exhibition of Israeli designers disrupted by protestors

Brussels: exhibition of Israeli designers disrupted by protestors

Brussels, the proud capital of Europe...

BRUSSELS (EJP)---An exhibition displaying the works of 40 Israeli designers in Brussels was disrupted on Thursday by pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

Some 20 demonstrators gathered outside the Pierre Bergé & Associés gallery on the Grand Sablon Square in the heart of the Belgian capital where the official opening of the exhibition PromiseDesign 2011 was taking place.  Policemen had taken positions at the entrance of the gallery to ensure security for visitors.

Bearing Palestinian flags, the protesters chanted "Israel fascist" and "Zionist terrorists." Many of them wore green t-shirts calling for a boycott of Israel.  Some protesters apparently managed to enter the hall of the Israeli exhibition where they started to shout anti-Israeli slogans. They were quickly removed by police.

For South African priest Christian Zionism is the new heresy like apartheid

And there is a famous Belgian behind this...  He is Pierre Galand, of the Free University of Brussels.  The University of Brussels is on record as being the first university in Europe where a distinguished member resigned because of the piling up of antisemitic incidents and inflammatory anti-Jewish/Israel rhetoric by some academics (Prominent Belgian Jewish figure resigned from Brussels University Board to denounce anti-Semitic incidents).

Pierre Galand, international co-ordinator of the Tribunal, is organising a session of the kangaroo court "Russell Tribunal on Palestine" in South Africa. South Africa was chosen because he accuses Israel of being an apartheid State.  The "session" will take place in November in Cape Town and he has enlisted the support of  two well-known Israel-bashers Desmond Tutu and John Dugar, as well as ... Winnie Mandela.

At the press conference, a priest Rev. Edwin Arrison, on behalf of Kairos (a viciously anti-Israel Christian group) said: 

"From the side of the churches it is important that we show our support for this tribunal. It is important because just as we declared apartheid a heresy, the new heresy we are facing today is Christian Zionism and because  of Christian Zionism there is so much support coming particularly from Christians in the USA.  There are many of us who say that  "no, we cannot allow the Bible, Christianity and so on to be misused in this way"."

"Apartheid in Israel" was on all the press conference participants' lips.

NGO Monitor has a special report on Pierre Galand: "PIERRE GALAND (BELGIUM) USING POLITICAL NGOS TO PROMOTE DEMONIZATION AND; ANTI-SEMITISM IN THE UN AND THE EU" and an UPDATE (2004) 

Prominent Belgian Jewish figure resigned from Brussels University Board to denounce anti-Semitic incidents

"According to Brotchi the situation at Brussels University is not isolated. "It is comparable to what is happening in other universities in Europe and elsewhere with the academic boycott of Israel campaigns where anti-Zionism takes the form of anti-Semitism. But this is no reason to stay without reaction"." 

BRUSSELS (EJP)---A prominent figure of the Jewish community of Belgium has resigned from the Board of Free University of Brussels (ULB) after denouncing several grave anti-Semitic incidents within the institution.

Jacques Brotchi, an internationally renowned neurosurgeon and honorary professor at the ULB, told EJP: "I resigned from the Board of the University Foundation which collects funds for research because I deeply deplored the absence of a strong and appropriate reaction from the university authorities to a succession of anti-Semitic incidents."

In his letter of resignation addressed to the ULB Rector, he wrote: "I don’t feel at home anymore at ULB."   He added, "I asked if the university of free-examination has not become the university of free anti-Semitism."  

The Belgian Senate voted last week a resolution tabled by the Socialists urging the Belgian government to recognize a Palestinian state. Jacques Brotchi and two other Senators from the MR (Liberal) party abstained. "We abstained because the resolution doesn't condemn the political objective of Hamas which is to destroy the state of Israel", Brotchi explained.

The incidents, which have been repeatedly denounced by the Union of Jewish Students of Belgium (UEJB), included the staging of an Israeli military checkpoint on the university campus, the invitation of anti-Semitic French comic Dieudonné to a conference and the absence of reaction to the comments he made, a Nazi-style student feast and the publication of an article in the magazine of Solvay, the [elite] economics and management school, in which the author used anti-Semitic stereotypes and prejudices comparable to those of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

As one student put it, "the situation at the university has become particularly difficult for Jews."

Related story

Jewish students denounce Brussels University debate on French controversial comic

The Union of Jewish Students urged the academic authorities to take measures against the "deteriorating climate" on the campus.

Brotchi, who is also a member of the Belgian Senate for the Liberal party, has met the university authorities to explain his decision but he didn’t had the impression they understood the gravity of the situation.

"I explained them that I know Jewish families who prefer to send their children study at UCL, the Catholic university," he told EJP.

In an interview published last month by the Belgian weekly Le Vif-L’Express, the Rector, Didier Viviers, flatly denied that his university has become anti-Semitic "because of  several regrettable incidents", and spoke of a "smear campaign."

According to Brotchi the situation at Brussels University is not isolated. "It is comparable to what is happening in other universities in Europe and elsewhere with the academic boycott of Israel campaigns where anti-Zionism takes the form of anti-Semitism."  "But this is no reason to stay without reaction," he added. 

Another European Union and United Nations 'serial assault' against Israel

The Centre lamented that the message "included no mention of terrorism and, in fact, endorsed a designated terrorist organisation on the UN's own watchlist", also stressing that "the meeting showed its true colors by studiously ignoring our proposal for a balanced resolution, calling 'for peace between the Arab State of Palestine alongside the Jewish State of Israel.'"

All signs point to this Israel-bashing exercise having been organised by a group of influencial and determined Belgian French-speaking Israel-bashers: Pierre Galand (Socialist, Université Libre de Bruxelles, founder of the Russell Tribunal for Palestine), Véronique De Keyser (Euro MP, Socialist).  Other guests include (well known for their anti-Israel rhetoric) Neve Gordon, Avraham Burg, Clare Short.

"Brussels Meeting on the Role of Europe in Advancing Palestinian Statehood is a 'serial assault'"

Source: CENTRE SIMON WIESENTHAL - EUROPE

"General Assembly September vote on Palestinian status should be conditioned on prior dismantling of pernicious UN Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People"

In a letter to UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre's Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, described his experience as the only Jewish NGO attending the Brussels meeting on "The Role of Europe in Advancing Palestinian Statehood and Achieving Peace Between Israelis and Palestinians."

Samuels noted that "this title was nothing but a political euphemism to campaign for the 27 States of the European Union - and the European Institutions themselves - to endorse the September UN General Assembly vote on a Palestinian unilateral declaration of independence", adding "behind that smokescreen, however, the gathering was yet another 'serial assault' against the State of Israel."

The letter listed "campaigns that were discussed, resonant of a 'Third Intifada', - calls for mass demonstrations, beginning in July, by Israeli Arabs and Palestinians in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and by support groups in Europe and North America under the title, 'United for Palestine Independence': -Veiled threats made by delegates e.g. 'this mother of all conflicts can bring violence to all the nations of the world'; 'Palestine will be liberated by a huge anti-apartheid campaign of global civil society'... 'After the vote, we must move from anti-occupation to anti - oppression in a one-state solution'... 'The boycott must be effectively imposed...'"

The Centre suggested, "perhaps we should not be surprised, as this Brussels meeting - following similar initiatives in Latin America and Africa - was organized by the "United Nations Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People", a monster born in the murky shadows of the notorious 1975 Zionism = Racism resolution, which should have been disbanded with that resolution's repeal in 1991.

EU Parliament President invites Palestinian NGO with Hamas links

The Chairman of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek (Poland)met in March 2010 Mr Arafat Shoukri, Executive director of  the Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) et chairman of the European campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, an umbrella organisation for 30 European NGOs.  Arafat Shoukri was also the guest of Javier Solana (Spain)!

We deeply regret that the head of the European Parliament finds that Arafat Madi Shoukri is a reliable interlocutor, considering that he is involved in organizations with links with Hamas and Hezbollah.  We further regret that none of the 736 European law-makers voiced disapproval about such a meeting.  Sadly, this is just becoming the norm.  It turns out that Belgian Euro-parliamentarian Véronique De Keyser has met with him recently. One can imagine the uproar that such an invitation would cause were he to be invited by the President of the U.S. Senate...  Not in Europe.

Source: Harry's Place (London Hamasniks and Interpal, by Habibi, 06/03/2009)

The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) is a London-based group dedicated to the return of Palestinian refugees to their families’ old homes in Israel.
Everyone who has followed the negotiations over the years knows that this is a deep red line for Israel. Just as it would be for any Muslim countries asked to compensate Jewish families expelled in the past for their losses, or to grant Jews return to their old homes, should any be so bold as to do so.
Nor will Israel be defeated on any battlefield at home any time in the foreseeable future.

In other words, the PRC’s position amounts to a guarantee of decades of frustration, anger and strife.

So it is hardly surprising to learn that the PRC was established in the 1990s by Abu Sitta, a Palestinian exile, to raise opposition to the Oslo peace process. Nor to see that Mr Sitta frequently uses “Israelis are Nazis” rhetoric fit only for racist haters. As for the Geneva Accord, he dismisses it as the work of Mossad.

Today the PRC’s trustees are Majdi Akeel, Majed Al Zeer, Zaher Birawi, Ghassan Faour, and Mohammad Hamed.

The PRC remains on message: it is very keen on Hamas. In the picture below, in November 2008 PRC director Majed Al Zeer (left) shares a platform in Damascus with Khaled Mishaal (right), a top Hamas hardliner. The man to Meshaal’s right is former Malaysian leader and notorious anti-Semite Mahathir Mohamad. The man to al Zeer’s left is Ali Akbar Mohtashami-Pur, an Iranian cleric and former diplomat and minister who played a key role in the build-up of Hezbollah.

The Damascus conference issued a statement and open letters that are quite pungent. Some examples:

The Congress reaffirms the need to popularize the culture of resistance and its practice as the option of resistance is the best and shortest way to realize the return of the refugees to their homes. It calls for the safeguarding of this option and its fortification on the national, patriotic, Islamic and international fronts.
…
They reaffirm their support for the national, patriotic and liberation stand of Syria and the steadfastness of its people under the leadership of Dr Bashar Al Asad in the face of all forms harassment, threats and aggression the last of which was the abhorrent American attack on Syrian territory.
…
They regard support for the Iraqi resistance and safeguarding of the unity and Arab identity of Iraq an important step toward the restoration of the Palestinian people of their land and rights.
…
The participants in the Arab International Congress for the right of return convinced of the longstanding and current danger of the Zionist role in the plots to dismember Sudan and undermine its national unity, Arab, African and Islamic identity and halt its role as a bridge between the Arab ummah and its strategic and civilizational depth in Africa declare their firm support for the people of Sudan in their struggle against all forms of colonial intervention, dubious internationalization and provocative initiatives.

This was hardly the first time the PRC associated itself so closely with terrorists. In 2007, it hoped to invite Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to a conference in Rotterdam. The Dutch authorities refused to issue a visa to Haniyeh. So another Hamas minister was dispatched. He managed to get a visa but was stopped at the airport in Brussels and turned back when the Dutch realised they had made a mistake and alerted the Belgians. For the PRC’s Al Zeer, refusing entry to a member of a proscribed terrorist group was nothing less than a “humiliation of the Palestinian people”.

In 2006, Sweden was more Hamas-friendly than the Netherlands: it allowed another Hamas minister to attend a PRC conference.

Belgium: a 85-year old Holocaust survivor assaulted at a bridge club

The head of a Brussels bridge club aged 60 violently slapped in the face a Holocaust survivor aged 85 who fought against the Nazis and who helped save a number of young girls from the Gestapo. 

Nothing - absolutely nothing - can justify that a much younger man assaults an elderly man. Reginald Delacroix is unrepentant and claims that Mr. Bernard Fenerberg [photo] was the aggressor... Sadly, a number of people witnessed the assault and did not show any sympathy with the victim - some of them were Jews. The blog that reports the incident observes that many within the Jewish community show a regrettable lack of sympathy to the suffering of others.  


Source: Agence Diasporique d'Information


- Mensch 2009 : Des combattants juifs, les armes à la main
- Discours et récit du sauvetage de fillettes juives au couvent du Très Saint-Sauver à Anderlecht en 1943, par Bernard Fenerberg, instigateur de l'action et participant, lors de la commémoration du 60ème anniversaire en 2003

Senior Israeli army official boycotted by lawyers in Belgium

INTAL, the NGO behind this initiative is financed by ... the Belgian government ...

BRUSSELS (EJP)---A lecture by an Israeli army senior official in Brussels was cancelled following pressure by pro-Palestinian NGOs on the organizers, EJP has learned.

Colonel Liron Libman, head of the International Law Department in the Military Advocate General’s Headquarters of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), was scheduled to speak Wednesday at the invitation of the Belgian section of the International Law Association about “the challenges in asymmetrical warfare: an Israeli experience”.

But several days ago, he was told by the organizers – the Belgian section of the International Law Association - that the conference had to be cancelled for “reasons out of their control” and that an alternative date “was being sought later” for a new event, Libman told EJP in Brussels.

Several Belgian NGOs had called for a boycott of the event in a letter to the chairman of the Belgian section of the International Law Association, Kim Van der Borght, a university law professor [at Westminster University (England) and Professor of International Economic Law at the Centre for Economic Law & Governance (University of Brussels VUB)].