Belgium is set to withdraw federal police protection from Antwerp’s Jewish quarter beginning January 1, ending an 11-year security arrangement established amid persistent terror threats. Since 2014, federal officers have comprised half of the security presence guarding the neighborhood, supplementing local police during a prolonged period of elevated risk to Jewish communities. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said the federal reserve should not be a “structural measure,” confirming that 16 federal officers will be redeployed to their original posts.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Antwerp Mayor Els van Doesburg and Jewish leaders, who warn the timing is especially troubling following a deadly antisemitic attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia and renewed threats across Europe. With federal support withdrawn, local authorities face a sudden gap in protection at a moment of heightened vulnerability. While the Interior Ministry insists Jewish sites remain a priority, critics caution that assurances ring hollow without resources—underscoring a growing pattern in Europe where Jewish communities are asked to shoulder risk amid rising antisemitism.

SOURCE: WIN