BRUSSELS – The European Jewish Association (EJA) commends the decision by political parties in the Belgian city of Willebroek to exclude Karim Hassoun from the governing coalition. “Hassoun is a radical extremist who supports Hamas and Hezbollah and imports anti-Semitism onto the streets of Europe,” says Belgian MP and EJA diplomatic envoy Michael Freilich. Karim Hassoun is the co-founder of the Hind Rajab foundation, that prosecutes Israeli soldiers around the world.
After months of negotiations following municipal elections in October 2024, the leaders of Willebroek’s two largest parties finally reached an agreement to form a governing coalition on Thursday evening, January 8th 2025. Willebroek is a city in the province of Antwerp, Belgium.
This development came about after Hassoun’s own party expelled the extremist following calls by the Belgian Jewish community to do so.
Hamas supporter
It was the Belgian Jewish Magazine, Joods Actueel, that led the campaign against Hassoun by publishing articles about the mans social media posts.
When asked if Hassoun would condemn Hamas after the October 7th attacks, Hassoun wrote on social media, “I condemn Hamas for not taking 500 or 1000 hostages, instead of just 200.”
Regina Suchowolsky, head of the Belgian Forum of Jewish Organisations and member of the European Jewish Association, had urged local politicians not to include an extremist figure like Hassoun. Joods Actueel also published photographs of Hassoun proudly wearing a Hezbollah cap and revealed images of him honouring a Hezbollah terrorist in front of the Belgian Holocaust Museum.
Standing firm
Mayor Eddy Bevers of the N-VA party had consistently stated that he would not govern alongside extremists and refused to share power with Hassoun’s party, Iedereen 2830. In the end, Iedereen 2830 conceded and removed Karim Hassoun from its faction, in order for a coalition to be formed.
EJA diplomatic envoy Michael Freilich, who is the only Jewish MP in Belgium and a party colleague of Mayor Bevers, praised Bevers for standing firm on principle:
“It is crucial that we uphold our responsibility to serve the public and refuse to give in to extremist voices. Hassoun tried to hide his track record, but did not get away with it. Under his leadership of the Arab European League, the Dutch branch of the organisation was convicted for minimising the Holocaust after publishing a cartoon showing Anne Frank in bed with Adolf Hitler. Someone like Hassoun is a vile figure and has no place in public office. His hateful actions impact and directly affect Jewish communities”.
Prosecuting Israeli soldiers
Hassoun is also the co-founder of the Hind Rajb Foundation, which seeks to prosecute Israeli soldiers around the world. He launched the organisation in September 2024, just one month before the local elections in Belgium. “This indicates that his primary focus lies in attacking Israel and Israelis, rather than addressing local
