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Belgium's Attitudes toward Israel and the Jews
(Institute for Global Jewish Affairs) Interview with Jehudi Kinar by Manfred Gerstenfeld - Israel has more friends in Flanders than in Wallonia. Several senior members of the Flemish Liberal and Christian parties have very positive attitudes toward Israel. The right-wing separatist N-VA party is currently the largest in Flanders. Yet its leader, Bart De Wever, is hostile toward Israel and has opposed the apologies of Antwerp mayor Patrick Janssens, a Socialist, for the municipality's misconduct during the Shoah. Out of principle the Israeli embassy does not maintain relations with the extreme-right Vlaams Belang. In Wallonia the Socialists are the leading party and often take hostile positions toward Israel. Israel's friends there are mainly among the Liberals, even if some of their leaders are also anti-Israel. The major Walloon media also frequently display very problematic attitudes toward Israel. Jehudi Kinar served as Israeli ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg.