JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli government minister blamed Belgian officials for “eating chocolate” instead of paying attention to security against terror.
“If in Belgium they continue eating chocolate and enjoying life, and continue to appear as great democrats and liberals, and do not decide that some Muslims in their country are organizing terror, they won’t be able to fight them,” Intelligence Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday in an interview with Israel Radio. Katz also serves as the country’s transportation minister.
His remarks came a day after twin bombings at Zaventem Airport and at a metro station in central Brussels killed at least 34 people and injured dozens.
“Europe and the U.S. aren’t prepared to define that the war is on Islamic terror,” he also said. “When your definition isn’t right and doesn’t exist, you can’t lead a global war.”
Several Israeli lawmakers criticized Belgium and Europe for lax security and for being hospitable to Muslims, but not integrating them properly into society.
Joint Arab List lawmaker Ahmed Tibi called the attacks “worthy of moral and political denunciation.”
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