Anderlecht mayor tells US ambassador not to intervene after local synagogue visit

The mayor of Anderlecht, Fabrice Cumps, has hit back at US ambassador Bill White over comments he made after visiting a synagogue in the municipality that was recently vandalised.

The synagogue, which belongs to the Orthodox Jewish community in Cureghem, was targeted on the night of 27 to 28 October, when someone threw a paving stone through a window. White said it was "clearly an antisemitic act".

The ambassador (pictured) visited the synagogue on Saturday together with Israeli ambassador David Saranga. Afterwards, he said soldiers were needed outside the building and that he would personally raise money to improve security in the surrounding area.

He also wanted to organise a concert and a celebration of religious freedom in the neighbourhood, together with the Israeli and Moroccan ambassadors and the commune.

His remarks did not go down well locally. Philippe Markiewicz, president of the Central Israelite Consistory of Belgium, said it was not up to the US president or his ambassador to deal with the situation in Belgium and in Anderlecht, whatever their intentions.

Cumps (PS) responded earlier this week, criticising what he saw as interference. 

"Communication between the different communities in the neighbourhood is going very well," he said, pointing out that the synagogue and the local neighbourhood committee regularly put on activities and concerts that are open to all residents. 

The communities also hold joint events on a regular basis.

"Relations between the different communities are excellent," Cumps said, before adding: "The ambassador should mind his own business."