UNIA has received 19 reports "of all kinds" relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a spokeswoman for the Belgian anti-discrimination institution told Belga on Friday.
Unfortunately, experience shows us that when the Israeli-Palestinian conflict leads to episodes of war, terrorism, reprisals and violence that are widely publicised in the media, the result in Belgium is mainly anti-Semitic acts and comments, even if anti-Arab or anti-Muslim comments sometimes also appear,” UNIA said in an article published on its website.
The institution therefore fears “a resurgence of hate speech and acts, especially of an anti-Semitic nature.” To date, it has received 19 reports “of all kinds,” said the spokeswoman, who did not wish to go into further detail, as the notifications still had to be analysed.
"Inciting hatred, violence or discrimination, defacing buildings, harassing, beating, abusing or threatening people because they are Jewish (or Arab or Muslim), approving or justifying the genocide committed by the Nazi regime during the Second World War are all reprehensible behaviours that the situation in the Middle East can in no way justify," UNIA warns on its website.
The organisation added that it analyses all cases and “reserves the right to take legal action if violations of legislation against racism, discrimination or Holocaust denial are found.” Referral to disciplinary authorities or media regulators is also possible, it said.
