Belgian Jewish Leader Branded ‘Enemy of Islam’
Belgian Health Minister Laurette Onkelinx has complained to police about a pamphlet naming a Jewish member of her party an “enemy of Islam.”
The Turkish-language pamphlet called Yves Goldstein, an associate of Onkelinx and fellow member of the Socialist Party, “an active Zionist and an enemy of Islam,” Onkelinx said at a news conference on Oct. 8.
“It is a call to Jew-hatred, much like the anti-Muslim calls we hear too often,” she added. “It is unacceptable and must stop immediately.” Goldstein, a candidate for the Socialist Party at Schaarbeek near Brussels, was also present at the meeting with journalists.
Onkelinx also filed a complaint with the Center for Equal Opportunity, a Belgian NGO.
On Oct. 4, an Internet user identified as Soumaya Talib sent an email to multiple recipients warning of the Goldstein’s candidacy for the local elections in Schaarbeek on Oct. 14.
“We wish to warn the Umma (“Muslim Nation”) that Muslims and friends of peace do not vote for the enemies of Palestine,” the letter read. It referred to Goldman the “Zionist” as “the right hand and diplomatic advisor of a Belgian minister.”
Goldman’s Zionism was “revealed with god’s help” after “Zionist services erased them,” it also said.
“Voting for a Zionist is to stick a knife into the back of a Palestinian to kill. May god protect us from Zionism and its friends at the Socialist Party.”
The letter included a text attributed to Goldman, stating he was a member of Hashomer Hatzair, a Socialist-Zionist youth movement founded in 1913.
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