The Islamists have succeeded in making the world safe for Jew haters

EU Official in Trouble for Remarks on Jews

Karel De Gucht, the European trade commissioner, has a penchant for saying what he’s really thinking. As Belgian foreign minister, he ruffled feathers across the globe. He was notoriously tough on Belgium’s former colony, the Congo, criticizing corruption and emphasizing that Belgium’s aid contributions gave it “the moral authority to comment on issues affecting the country.” Congo subsequently banned Mr. De Gucht from visiting.

On Thursday, with the Middle East peace process in the news, Mr. De Gucht picked yet another fight. Jews, he told Belgian radio, have a “belief” that they are “always right.” He described his frustration at debating the Middle East because “it is not easy even with a moderate Jew to have a conversation.”

He continued: “Don’t underestimate the power of the Jewish lobby in the capital. That is best organized lobby in the states. And they have an influence on politicians, Republicans and Democrats.”

Dr. Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, lambasted the commissioner. “What sort of environment allows such remarks to be made openly by a senior politician?” he said. “This is part of a dangerous trend of incitement against Jews and Israel in Europe that needs to be stamped out immediately.”

European Commission spokesman Olivier Bailly, pressed repeatedly on whether the commission disavows Mr. De Gucht’s remarks, said only that the commission considers them “personal comments.”

We will update if Mr. De Gucht clarifies his remarks later on today.

UPDATE: Mr. De Gucht issued a statement on Friday afternoon. It said: “I gave an interview yesterday to the Flemish radio. I was also asked about the Middle East peace talks. I gave my personal point of view. I regret that the comments that I made have been interpreted in a sense that I did not intend. I did not mean in any possible way to cause offense or stigmatize the Jewish Community. I want to make clear that anti-Semitism has no place in today’s world and is fundamentally against our European values.”