Brussels refuses to host a Belgium-Israel Nations League game

The city of Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the seat of the European Commission and Parliament, has decided to refuse to host the Nations League football match between Belgium and Israel scheduled for 6 December. "The growing number of demonstrations in support of the Palestinian cause throughout Brussels has made the atmosphere surrounding the organisation of this match and the security measures that would have to be put in place quite unbearable," announced the city's mayor, Philippe Close, at the end of a meeting of his municipal council.

The Brussels mayor explained that "after careful and thorough analysis, we must conclude that the announcement of such a match in our capital, in these particularly volatile times, would undoubtedly lead to large demonstrations and counter-protests, endangering the safety of spectators, players and residents of Brussels, as well as our police forces". Regarding the latter, Close pointed out that "since 7 October 2023 the Police have been called upon continuously to ensure the daily security of the city, in particular to manage the large number of demonstrations resulting from these international tensions". 

The Belgian Football Union (UBF) regrets the decision taken by the city of Brussels and immediately issued a statement in which it says it "understands and shares the concern about the situation in Israel and Palestine", while regretting having to forgo the extra boost that Belgian fans always give to the national team's matches at the King Baudouin Stadium. The UBF says it had hoped that the match would be played behind closed doors, while regretting that the game would not be held in a city that already has a wealth of experience in organising major events. He also points out that they had considered the city of Leuven as an alternative venue for the match, but its city council also refused to host the game. The mayor of the famous university city, Mohamed Riddouani, cited "security reasons". 

Since the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023, Israel's representative sport has participated in international competitions in several countries. Footballers from both the national and club teams play in Hungary, while Maccabi Tel Aviv's basketball team has been based at Partizan Belgrade in Serbia for two-thirds of its Euroleague season. 

Among the political class, the strongest reaction came from Georges-Louis Bouchez, president of the Reform Movement (MR-Liberal), the main political party in French-speaking Belgium, winner of the last federal elections. In his account on X, Bouchez writes: "Is a liberal democracy no longer capable of welcoming a democratic country? Not even the worst dictatorships suffer this humiliation. Who can deny, in view of this, that there is a serious and grave problem in Belgium?"

The polarisation over the Belgium-Israel match was accentuated at the same time that Israel decided to respond to the request made by the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, to hold a meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council. Borrell had sent Israel a draft agenda, the main point of which was to "discuss the situation in Gaza and respect for human rights, in accordance with Israel's obligations under this agreement". Borrell also told a press conference that the EU Foreign Affairs Council wants to know first-hand how Israel intends to implement the ICJ ruling. 

Israel's response came in Budapest, where Foreign Minister Israel Katz agreed to hold such a meeting, but only after Hungary has taken over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU, which will begin in July, taking over from Belgium. 

In his bilateral meeting with his Hungarian colleague, Péter Szijjártó, the latter said that "the Hungarian EU presidency will strive to restore EU-Israeli cooperation, removing the tone of reprimand and continuous lecturing [from Brussels to Tel Aviv]...".

Katz recognised Hungary "as a true friend of Israel", while the Magyar foreign minister noted that "the growing anti-Semitism of the modern era in Europe is the result of an absolutely irresponsible migration policy, under which a vociferous minority often overrides the will of a silent majority".