A Jerusalem family holding dual Israeli-Belgian citizenship was surprised last week when they received a letter from the Belgian consulate addressed to the mother as a resident of “Jerusalem,” but to the children as residents of the “Palestinian territories.”
Yediot Aharonot reported that the Tenzer family of the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood of Jerusalem received the letter regarding their voting rights ahead of elections in Belgium. While the mother, Annabelle Herciger Tenzer, received the letter to the address “Jerusalem,” her children, Tehilla and Gilad (ages 24 and 26), who live with her in the same apartment, received letters addressed to the “Palestinian territories.” Up until now, all letters the family received from the consulate were addressed to “Jerusalem.”
According to the report, the family believes that the change stems from the US decision to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem - a move which was rejected by EU countries.
Alex Tenzer, the father of the family, told Yediot Aharonot, “Not only is Belgium dividing Jerusalem, they are also trying to separate between my children and my wife. We always lived in northern Jerusalem and we are part of Jerusalem. Up until now, we received all letters to the address ‘Jerusalem.’ I hope that this is not a change in the Belgian policy. I demand explanations and ask that new letters be sent, addressed to ‘Jerusalem.’”