Belgium - Citing environmental laws, a Jewish resident of Antwerp is considering filing charges against a group of Satmar chasidim who burned an Israeli flag after a Lag B’Omer bonfire last Thursday.
According to reports in Belgian news source Joods Actueel, a neighbor took photos of the flag burning which took place at the Satmar synagogue located on Jacob Jacobstraat. According to Belgian law, burning a sheet or a cloth without a permit is a punishable offense, even when done on private property.
Anti zionistic demonstrations by Jews are rare in Belgium and the exclusion of a Neturei Karta member from a synagogue in Antwerp two years ago was a source of controversy.
“In Judaism there is no room for hatred,” said David Terry, general manager of the Jewish News. “Do these people forget that Jews were burned in Auschwitz? We must always strive for reconciliation, not this kind of malice.”
