Antwerp Jewish Community: A Call to Close Windows and Doors Amidst Israel-Palestine Conflict
The Jewish community in Antwerp has called on its members to keep windows and doors of Jewish institutions closed for the time being. There are no specific threats, but the community calls for extra vigilance due to the situation Israel-Palestine Conflict. Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA) says that the Antwerp police are closely monitoring the situation.
In a crisis communication on Sunday evening, the Jewish community in Antwerp called on its members to keep the windows and doors of the many Jewish institutions closed until further notice. This advice comes in the context of the situation in Israel and out of fear that the conflict would spread to our country.
Extra vigilance(Israel-Palestine Conflict)
According to the Coordination Committee of the Jewish Communities of Antwerp. There will be an increased police presence around schools and synagogues in the coming days. The community itself also uses extra volunteers to keep an eye on things. “At this time, no specific threats have been reported or observed for Belgium and Antwerp in particular,” it said. “We still ask you to remain vigilant.”
Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever says through his spokesperson that the police are “taking all measures necessary to ensure safety”. But neither confirms nor denies that there will continue to be additional police supervision at Jewish institutions. “Our local police are monitoring it closely, in good cooperation with the Jewish community.”
Tightened supervision
Meanwhile, the office of Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) has indeed announced that they will tighten supervision of schools and worship services. “Our security services maintain round-the-clock vigilance over the threat assessment,” it stated firmly. We are maintaining ongoing and direct communication with both the security services and the National Crisis Center. Ensuring an unwavering, steadfast watch over the situation.” Based on the currently available information and the analyses carried out. We have called on all local police zones in the country to exercise active vigilance. Naturally, security measures are being for the Jewish institutions, which were already in force.”
The threat is continuously evaluated and based on this it is determined whether it is necessary to take additional security measures, the government said.
