Belgian PM: “I Will Be Your Envoy” to Combat Antisemitism

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever met Jewish community leaders in Antwerp on Monday, and reportedly told them he would personally serve as their envoy to combat antisemitism until a formal appointment is made.

The statement comes as Belgium remains one of the few European Union countries without a dedicated antisemitism envoy, even as Jewish organizations warn of rising threats and a lack of a coordinated national response. De Wever’s intervention signals both the urgency of the issue and the absence of a permanent institutional framework.

The meeting brought together leaders from Antwerp’s Shomre Hadas and Machsike Hadas communities, as well as representatives of umbrella organizations including the Forum of Jewish Organizations (FJO), the Coordination Committee of Jewish Organizations in Belgium (CCOJB), and the Jewish Information and Documentation Center (JID). Belgian MP Michael Freilich, the country’s only Jewish lawmaker, also attended.

Participants focused on what they described as a growing climate of hostility toward Jewish communities, alongside broader concerns about security and government policy. According to those present, De Wever said, “Until that time, I will be your envoy to combat antisemitism,” referring to ongoing discussions over appointing a national coordinator for the issue.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of heightened security measures across Belgium. In recent weeks, the government deployed soldiers to guard Jewish institutions in Antwerp and Brussels following an increase in threat levels. The move came after a March 9 explosion damaged a synagogue in the city of Liège, an incident Belgian authorities publicly identified as antisemitic.

Jewish organizations have warned that such incidents are part of a broader trend. Data from Belgium’s equality body, Unia, recorded 232 antisemitic incidents in 2025, up sharply from 129 the previous year. Community leaders have said the current framework for addressing antisemitism lacks visibility, authority, and resources.

In late February, the FJO and CCOJB publicly called for the appointment of an independent national coordinator under the prime minister’s authority, arguing that existing mechanisms have failed to produce a coherent or effective strategy. They pointed to the absence of a dedicated budget and the limited scope of current intergovernmental efforts.

De Wever’s reported pledge was met with approval from participants at the meeting, though it does not replace the need for a formal appointment, which still requires agreement among Belgium’s coalition partners.

“Even in difficult times, it is heartening to see that the country’s most senior political leader is personally committed to the future of his Jewish fellow citizens,” Freilich said following the meeting.

At its conclusion, De Wever confirmed that he will deliver the keynote address at the annual Holocaust deportation commemoration in Antwerp on May 6, signaling continued engagement with the Jewish community as discussions over a permanent envoy remain unresolved.