As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I naturally feel connected to Israel. When the country was attacked by Hamas from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, I reacted spontaneously with indignation and deep compassion. I found what happened terrible. Had someone pinned a Star of David on me that day, I would have worn it with pride. After all, Israel remains the land where our Savior and Redeemer was born, walked, and completed his ministry. That bond will always be there.The Jewish people are and remain the chosen people of God with whom we as Christians have a bond. No one can take that away from me.
But precisely for that reason, I must also have the courage to name the truth. What is happening in Gaza in the meantime defies all imagination. The massive destruction, human suffering, and countless victims can no longer be justified by the right to self-defense. Israel had that right, without a doubt. But the country has gone much too far in its response. We cannot call it anything else: this is a genocide that is beyond all proportion.
No time to be silent
As a Christian, I cannot remain silent. I feel connected to Israel, but I also feel equally connected to the victims in Gaza. They too are my brothers and sisters, children of the same heavenly Father. Therefore, I call for our politics to be guided not only by calculation or the balance of power, but also by compassion. We must let mercy prevail. And that begins with ourselves.
Our government deserves praise for the role it has already played. Belgium has not waited and has taken important steps in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. But at the same time, too much remains stuck in symbolism. The political game around the recognition of Palestine, whether it comes with conditions or not, doesn't put food on the table and doesn't stop a rain of bombs. Prime Minister De Wever is right about this: recognition alone does not help the residents of Gaza. But precisely for that reason, Belgium must do more.
Whoever says our country 'cannot make a difference anyway' looks away. And whoever looks away gives evil free rein. Realpolitik must not paralyze us. Small countries have often made a difference in history, not through power, but through courage. Let Belgium, if necessary, be the first country to take real, concrete steps. An economic boycott is among the most powerful means we have. Mere symbolic actions will no longer suffice. It's time to show that words have consequences.
Time for solidarity
Some will say that we should rather focus on our own problems: the rising cost of living, political uncertainties, social tensions. But international solidarity should not depend on our domestic concerns. Moreover, the war is also coming closer to home. Drones in European airspace remind us that the flame can quickly spread. If it is ever our turn to ask for solidarity, how credible are we if we now look away from the victims in Gaza? Solidarity can benot only demanded, you must also give it.
That is why I advocate for more courage in our politics. Let Belgium be a pioneer. Let us show that solidarity is not an empty word, but a concrete choice. That we are not only connected to the people of Israel, but also to every innocent who suffers from war and violence.
It is time for more than compassion. It is time for true solidarity.
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