More than 100 Jewish citizens and expats in Belgium have signed an open letter denouncing injustice wherever it occurs and expressing their deep concerns about the ongoing war in Gaza.
The petition was initiated by peace activists Charlotte van Coevorden and Debora Gol and was recently published in Belgian media. While condemning the terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on 7 October 2023, the signatories state that they cannot remain silent about the suffering and violence inflicted upon civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
Referring to the on-going war in Gaza but also to settler violence, the letter states that Israel’s “bombings in densely populated areas, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, the obstruction of humanitarian aid and the violence perpetrated by settlers in the West Bank are indefensible.”
“These actions violate the principles of justice, compassion, and respect for human life that we hold as fundamental,” the letter says.
“We firmly believe that peace cannot be achieved through violence or oppression. It is imperative that all parties respect human rights and commit to constructive dialogue. We call for an immediate stop to hostilities, the unconditional release of hostages, and the protection of civilians, regardless of their origin.”
“Our solidarity extends to all victims of this conflict, both Israeli and Palestinian. Human suffering knows no borders, and it is our moral obligation to denounce injustice wherever it occurs. We urge political leaders to take decisive steps toward a just and lasting peace based on mutual respect and coexistence,” the petition concludes.
“We also encourage our community and fellow citizens to support initiatives that foster peace and dialogue while rejecting those that incite hatred or deepen division. Together, let us work toward a future where everyone can live in safety and dignity, free from fear and violence.”
Different Belgian voices
This is not the first open letter in Belgium on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last April the chairs of the ‘Comité de Coordination des Organisations Juives de Belgique’ (CCOJB) and the ‘Forum der Joodse Organisaties’ (FJO) sent an open letter to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. According to the letter, some of the ministers in his government had issued disturbing statements about the conflict.
In his reply, De Croo replied that, “Criticism of the extreme-right government of Prime Minister Netanyahu must be possible, without ever being reduced to criticism of Israel,” indirectly referring to pro-Palestinian voices in Belgium that question Israel’s right to exist and defend itself.
In an interview in Knack, Charlotte van Coevorden said that she had lost her anonymity since she threw herself into the public debate about the conflict. She does not agree with the unconditional support for Israel by the established Jewish organisations in Belgium, nor does she want to end up with the small corner of the Jewish left which participates in pro-Palestinian demonstrations calling for the "liberation of Palestine from the river to the sea".
“For Jewish progressives like me, Judaism is synonymous with social justice,” she explained. She doubts that Israel today stands by the values of social justice. “I criticize Israel, not as a rejection of my Jewish identity but as an expression of it.” She wants to bring nuance to the debate and hopes that her openness will bridge divides both in the local Jewish community and between Jews and Muslims in Belgium.
Both Charlotte and Deborah are members of “Belgian Friends of Standing Together”, a group of Muslim and Jewish peace activists which is inspired by “Standing Together”, an Israeli social-political grassroot movement. The latter has become known for actions such as protecting humanitarian aid convoys against violent Israeli settlers and shielding Palestinians in the old city of Jerusalem.
The Belgian group has demonstrated for an end to the war in Gaza, the release of all the hostages and a peaceful solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There are also plans to launch a joint petition by Muslims and Jews in Belgium for peace and justice.
EU-Israel political dialogue
Although most of Hamas military force and infrastructure have been eliminated and it does not pose any threat any longer, Israel resumed last October an offensive in northern Gaza to root out any remaining Hamas operatives and prevent any civilians from returning there. The extent of destruction and use of disproportionate violence in northern Gaza lacks any international legitimacy and military justification.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is pressed by his extremist partners in the government not to agree to a hostage deal which would lead to an end to the war. The most far-right government in Israel’s history talks about “total victory” and opposes an alternative to Hamas which could take over the control of the Gaza Strip, distribute humanitarian aid, and start reconstruction.
An alternative to Hamas would offer a political perspective for the two-state solution which is supported by the EU and the international community.
The war continues also as a pretext to delay a public inquiry into the government’s responsibility for the failure to foresee and stop Hamas’ terrorist attack on 7 October. If Netanyahu wants to stay in power until next regular elections in 2026, he could achieve that by a plea bargain in his court trial. The opposition partiers are committed to support him if he will fire the extremist ministers in the government.
The EU intends to continue the political dialogue with Israel in the framework of the EU-Israel Association Council but no date for the meeting has been decided yet. For the meeting to be meaningful, the EU wants to discuss the issues mentioned in the petition and political solutions on all fronts and not limit the meeting to bilateral cooperation as in October 2022 when the meeting was resumed after a suspension of ten years.
