Flemish premier under fire after comparing Israel to Hamas

The leader of Belgium’s Flemish community sparks controversy with direct comparison between the Jewish state and the Hamas terror organization, days after refusing to offer a holiday greeting to the country’s Jewish community.

By World Israel News Staff

The head of government for the Flemish community in Belgium is under fire this week after he compared Israel with the Hamas terror organization during a meeting with lawmakers.

On Tuesday, Matthias Diependaele, the Minister-President of Flanders who heads the government representing Belgium’s seven million Dutch speakers, addressed the Flemish parliament in a speech which touched on the ongoing Gaza war and calls for intervention on behalf of Gaza.

Diependaele, who represents the center-right New Flemish Alliance, rejected calls by Flemish lawmakers for sanctions against Israel, arguing such measures would “hurt Flanders more than Israel.”

“I want to look at measures that actually make a difference, and a difference that doesn’t hurt us more than them.”

The rejection drew criticism from the centrist Christian Democratic and Flemish party, which has called on the government “to help end the humanitarian catastrophe.”

But Diependaele also enraged supporters of Israel, calling the Jewish state a “villain” and comparing it to the Hamas terror organization.

“I don’t know who is a bigger villain, Israel or Hamas,” Diependaele said.

MP Sam van Rooy, a pro-Israel lawmaker from the conservative Vlaams Belang party, blasted Diependaele and his party, accusing both of caving to the Left.

“The New Flemish Alliance has completely surrendered to leftist pressure and no longer has a moral compass. He compares a free society and democratic state, existentially threatened, to a gang of murderous Muslim terrorists.”

“This is why I continue responding to the anti-Israeli debate, constantly fed by leftist parties and traditional parties – it removes the mask. Israel is a litmus test. Now we know that, unfortunately, Flanders is controlled by a premier who cannot distinguish between good and evil.”

Last week, Diependaele came under fire from the World Jewish Congress after he refused to offer a blessing to the local Jewish community for the upcoming Rosh Hashanah holiday.

“After internal deliberation, we regret to inform you that, given the current situation and sensitivities concerning the tensions in the Middle East, we cannot follow up on your request,” Diependaele’s office wrote in response to a request for a holiday greeting sent by a local Jewish newspaper.

“Anything that bears even the slightest connection to this conflict is being closely monitored and examined under a magnifying glass.”