The main organization representing the Belgian Jewish community denounced a pro-Palestinian parliamentary exhibit held in the country’s federal parliament that it described as "hateful and dogmatic" and promoting "deliberately decontextualized" claims.
The Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organizations in Belgium (CCOJB) expressed indignation at the exhibit, which focused on Palestinian Arab youth.
The CCOJB notified the Presidents of the House of Representatives and the Senate that it was furious the controversial exhibit went forward with parliamentary approval
The exhibit’s inauguration took place on November 17.
The CCOJB joined with the Forum der Joodse Organisaties (FJO) – the “Forum of Jewish Organizations” – to call for the removal of the exhibit, which it described as “unworthy of being displayed in the Parliament.”
According to the CCOJB, the exhibition contains “deliberately decontextualized allegations and conveys a vision that is contrary to the democratic values and principles of the State of Israel, within the framework of a state governed by the rule of law, particularly with regard to children, irrespective of their origin, nationality or religion.”
The organization added that the display “illustrates a hateful and dogmatic militancy which has no place in the ‘Palais de la Nation [‘Palace of the Nation’].’”
The organization slammed the exhibit as “unacceptable” and called for its removal.
“By its presence in this high representative place of Belgium, it constitutes an unacceptable import of the very complex conflict prevailing in the Middle East,” the CCOJB said.