A simmering conflict regarding religious freedom in Europe erupted into a full-scale diplomatic confrontation on Monday, as the United States launched a scathing public rebuke of the Belgian government over the prosecution of three Antwerp mohalim.
In a move described as a “frontal battle” for religious rights by US Ambassador to Belgium Bill White, the Ambassador issued a statement demanding that Belgian authorities immediately drop what the US administration has termed an “anti-Semitic and ridiculous lawsuit” against the religious leaders.
According to Israel’s Channel 14 News, The Ambassador’s intervention is backed by the highest levels of the American administration, including President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
The dispute centers on the prosecution of three senior mohalim in Antwerp. Police raided their homes in the dead of night, terrifying the rabbis’ families – a case that has drawn the ire of Jewish communities worldwide.
White wrote on X in a statement direcred to the Belgian Minister of Health, Frank Vandenbroucke, that he cease “unacceptable harassment” and allow for full religious freedom.
“We are in 2026,” the Ambassador stated. “Move forward to the 21st century and stop this ridiculous trial.”
White described Vandenbroucke’s conduct as “particularly impudent.”
According to Channel 14, during an official meeting between the two nations’ representatives, the Belgian Health Minister refused to shake the American representative’s hand or pose for a photograph in the conference room.
“This is an evasive tactic,” the US statement read, dismissing the Minister’s hesitation. The American delegation demanded that the Minister stop waiting for legal proceedings to drag out and instead act immediately to settle the legal status of Bris Milah and protect those who perform it.
In a stinging reminder of historical atrocities, the American representative pointedly reminded Vandenbroucke that tens of thousands of American soldiers sacrificed their lives on Belgian soil to secure the country’s freedom during two World Wars.
“It is clear you don’t like America,” the message read, emphasizing that Belgium has a moral obligation to behave as a “civilized country that respects religious freedom.”
Escalating the pressure further, White announced plans to travel to Antwerp next week. The visit is intended as a show of solidarity, where he will meet personally with the mohalim facing prosecution and their families.
In a direct challenge to the Belgian government, the Ambassador publicly invited Vandenbroucke and politician Conner Rousseau to join him on the visit, urging them to see firsthand the distress their policies have caused the Jewish community.
“It is disgusting what is happening to these families because of your inaction,” the representative concluded.