Filip Dewinter, a Flemish MP from Vlaams Belang, has harshly criticized Flanders’ integration policies following recent anti-Semitic incidents in Antwerp.
He described the situation as proof of “the total bankruptcy of this government and previous governments” in a press release. Dewinter argued that these events reflect a growing wave of anti-Semitism in Flanders, warning, “If we don’t tackle this, the situation will only escalate further.”
The controversy follows a recent incident in Amsterdam, where immigrant youth targeted supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv after a football match. Dewinter labeled it “a modern pogrom in which Jews were targeted.” In Antwerp, police thwarted a similar attack by arresting seven suspects. “The images of aggression against Jews in Antwerp confirm a climate of growing insecurity,” he said.
‘De #islam is niet alleen de rem op iedere vorm van integratie het is tevens de belangrijkste brandstof voor het groeiend anti-semitisme. De #Koran is een aaneenschakeling van oproepen tot ‘Jodenjacht’ en geweld tegen ongelovige kafirs.’ Bekijk mijn volledige interpellatie… pic.twitter.com/Zs2Vn9mLHU
— Filip Dewinter (@FDW_VB) November 15, 2024
“Islam Is the Elephant in the Room”
Dewinter didn’t hold back, blaming Islam as the root cause of the problem. “Let’s call man and horse: anti-Semitism is inherently linked to Islam and even one of its spearheads,” he stated. He also criticized Integration Minister Hilde Crevits for sidestepping the issue, saying, “She cycled around the hot broth and managed not to pronounce the word ‘Islam’ or ‘Muslims’ once.”
Radical Measures Proposed
Arguing that the current approach is inadequate, Dewinter called for bold actions to curb anti-Semitism, including revoking Islam’s official recognition, halting subsidies, and banning Islamic education. He dismissed softer approaches like social work or integration classes as futile, comparing them to “a plaster on a broken leg.”
Dire Warnings
Dewinter cautioned that the situation could worsen if ignored. “The Jewish hunt we see now will turn out to be small beer in relation to what comes our way,” he warned, urging the Flemish government to confront the issue head-on. “We must dare to name the elephant in the room; otherwise, anti-Semitism will continue to grow undisturbed,” he concluded.
