The Antwerp city administration has abandoned plans to purchase a fleet of EZRaider Israeli electric vehicles intended for local police use.
This decision, says the office of Mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA), is not due to the Israeli origin of the vehicles, but was prompted by hateful comments made by the company’s CEO about Palestinians.
EZRaider manufactures a kind of sturdy Segway employed by the police for various terrains. The purchase had already sparked contention between the majority and opposition in Antwerp, owing to the conflict in Gaza.
In recent days, a series of statements made by the business’s CEO have come to light. These included hateful and racist messages against Palestinians, which the city administration now find unacceptable. Consequently, the planning committee unanimously decided not to proceed with the planned purchase.
