When it comes to Israel….what a difference an election makes

Just in the past year, Belgium, with one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe, was advocating for sanctions and product boycotts against the Jewish state for its retaliation against Hamas following the October 7th massacre of Israelis. Several universities in the country severed ties with all Israeli academic and research institutions, the soccer match between Belgium and Israel scheduled for September 6th in Brussels was cancelled, and the Belgian Chamber of Representatives voted on a resolution urging the government to officially recognize the State of Palestine.

Israel Hayom After nearly eight months of political deadlock and exhausting negotiations, Belgium is finally on the verge of forming a new government. The new coalition, composed of five parties, leans toward the right. When it comes to Israel, this marks a real transformation.

The previous government was one of the most hostile to Israel in Europe, but the new coalition agreement effectively sets a more pro-Israel stance. Now there there will be no unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, and Hezbollah will be designated as a terrorist organization.

The coalition consists of three Flemish parties and two Walloon parties, reflecting Belgium’s dual-national structure. The largest party in the new government is the center-right New Flemish Alliance (N-VA). The government also intends to tighten Muslim  immigration policies and set stricter criteria for financial aid. On security matters, the government plans to increase funding for the military and police to combat rising crime.

Incoming Prime Minister Bart De Wever, a former mayor of Antwerp, is known for his strong ties with the Jewish community. The shift in Belgium’s stance toward Israel and its Jewish community is explicitly outlined in the coalition agreement. The new government has pledged that Belgium will not unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state; any such move will align with European Union policy and require broad European consensus.

Another significant move, which will likely be welcomed in Jerusalem, is Belgium’s decision to classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, banning all ties with the group, including its political wing. The coalition agreement also affirms Belgium’s firm opposition to Iran’s nuclear program.

In recent years, Belgium has become a hotbed for pro-Palestinian movements, some of which have openly supported Hamas. Under the previous government, there was a sense that Brussels had neither the will nor the ability to curb anti-Israel incitement in public spaces.

Now, the new government has vowed to take decisive action, including imposing sanctions on mosques and schools that promote antisemitic incitement. Additionally, Belgium plans to join other European countries in banning the organization “Samidoun,” whose activists have incited against Israel and led protests featuring hate crimes against both Israel and Jews.

Behind the scenes of the emerging shift in Belgium stands, among others, Member of Parliament Michael Freilich, a representative of the New Flemish Alliance party. Freilich, who serves as the special envoy of the European Jewish Association (EJA) for combating antisemitism, was involved in the coalition negotiations and successfully brought the issue of antisemitism to the forefront.

According to him, the change is evident in the coalition agreements: “In the past, the word ‘antisemitism’ did not appear in them at all. Today, it is mentioned several times, and the absence of left-wing parties allows for a genuine fight against the phenomenon.” Freilich expresses cautious optimism about the new possibilities: “I see a real opportunity to improve relations with Israel and open a new chapter.”

“This is a government that presents a more balanced and even positive stance toward Israel,” Freilich told Israel Hayom. “Unlike the previous government, which promoted sanctions against Israel and recognized a Palestinian state, this time the situation is different.”

Hard-right parties, often riding anti-immigrant sentiment, performed strongly in European Parliament elections last year, and have topped recent national and regional votes in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands.

In the past year, many Jews were considering fleeing Belgium because of virulent anti-Semitism, coming from the rapidly growing Muslim migrant population.