This
is a growing phenomenon at the time when the war in Gaza intensifies: Belgian Jews prefer to conceal
their identity on the social networks in order to escape expressions of hatred and to find themselves
in the lists of Jews, as has recently happened in France, reports the Belgian
news site sudinfo.be.
According
to the news site, more and more Jews hide their identity on Facebook, a
widening phenomenon in Belgium. The trend started in France, where a large
segment of the Jewish community decided to
act in this manner after lists of Jews were publicized based on data
they had published on the social networks.
“In
order to prevent it, we have decided to take preventive actions in Belgium.
Many Jews have decided to change their identity on Facebook by publishing their
abbreviated name. This is also a way to avoid the publication of hate speech.
In addition, Jews avoid wearing Jewish symbols on the street, so they won’t be
attacked” reports Simon Bertholz, one of the organizers of pro-Israel
demonstrations.
Yoel
Rubinfeld, President of the Belgian League against Antisemitism in Belgium,
also confirms that the phenomenon exists. ”Some of my friends on Facebook have
indeed changed their name on their home page. Two months after the terrorist
attack in the Jewish museum, on the streets of Brussels there are shouts ‘Death
to the Jews’. We learn nothing,” stresses the man while pointing a finger at
Brussels Mayor, Yvan Mayeur.
The
managers of the Antisemitisem.be site report that since the start of the
Israeli assault in Gaza, a sharp increase in the number of incidents has been
recorded, among other things, in antisemitic graffiti in Brussels, hate talk on
signposts and other negative reactions towards the Jewish community.
“Both
Jews and Muslims in Belgium, and Democracy as well, are secondary victims of
the conflict,” says Rubinfeld.
