The U.S. ambassador to Belgium has condemned the country’s prosecution of three Jewish mohels for performing ritual circumcisions without a medical license, prompting a diplomatic rebuke from Belgian authorities.
Ambassador Bill White posted on social media platform X, urging Belgium to drop the case against the three individuals, who are suspected of carrying out the procedure in Antwerp. He described the prosecution as “unacceptable harassment” of the Jewish community. White also accused Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke of personal discourtesy during a meeting, claiming the minister’s behavior indicated dislike for America.
In response, Belgium’s Foreign Ministry summoned White for a formal reprimand. Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot stated that suggestions of Belgian antisemitism are “false, offensive, and unacceptable,” while condemning antisemitism firmly. Prevot added that personal attacks against a minister and interference in judicial proceedings violate diplomatic norms. He noted that Belgian law permits only qualified physicians to perform circumcisions but declined to comment on the specific case.
White remained unapologetic, telling reporters there was “no need for an apology” and expressing hope Belgium would “legalize this process.” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar supported White’s position, citing a rise in antisemitic attacks in Belgium and urging the Belgian government to “acknowledge reality.” Prevot rejected this claim, warning against the “inflationary use of the term antisemitism.”
The dispute centers on a clash between Belgium’s public health regulations, which require a medical license for surgical procedures including circumcision, and Jewish religious practice, which has relied on trained mohels for millennia. The three men face prosecution for performing the rite outside a medical setting. While Belgian authorities emphasize the legal requirement is about patient safety and not religious discrimination, critics argue the law infringes on religious freedom.
The incident has heightened diplomatic tensions between the two allies, spotlighting ongoing debates in Europe over balancing secular law with religious customs. The judicial process against the mohels is expected to continue, with no indication yet of a policy change from the Belgian government.
