U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White is criticizing Belgian prosecutors for filing criminal charges this week against three Jewish men for performing ritual circumcisions, calling it a “shameful stain” on the country that many would deem antisemitic.
“The Trump administration condemns this judicial action and also condemns the political inaction by the [Belgian] government to find a solution with the beautiful Jewish communities here in Belgium,” Mr. White posted late Tuesday on X.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot rebuked Mr. White, saying it is inappropriate to publicly criticize a country over a disagreement regarding judicial proceedings.
“Would you consider it acceptable for our ambassador in Washington to do the same?” Mr. Prevot posted on X. “In Belgium, the judiciary is independent and makes its decisions — whether one agrees with them or not — free from any political influence.”
Police in Antwerp last year launched raids in the city’s Jewish quarter on the homes of several mohels — men who perform the ritual circumcision known as bris. Officers confiscated the bris knives and demanded records of every infant circumcised during the prior year, according to media reports at the time.
After prosecutors filed charges this week, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Belgium of using “criminal law to prosecute Jews for practicing Judaism.”
“This is a scarlet letter on Belgian society. The Brit Milah is the cornerstone of Jewish faith,” Mr. Sa’ar said Tuesday. “Many countries in Europe and around the world have created legal frameworks to facilitate the [procedure] and Jewish religious freedom in their countries.”
Mr. White said additional information on the case would be released following the upcoming meetings with the Belgian government.
