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Antwerpâs diamond traders fear terror attacks
Sorry, Belgium, but calling America names may not keep you safe...Businesses in Antwerpâs famous diamond tradersâ district fear they could soon be targeted by an Islamic fundamentalist terror attack, the Belgian press reported on Thursday. The majority of Antwerpâs diamond traders are Jewish. They say have been particularly concerned since the European Arab League (EAL) warned they could be considered a terrorist target. "Ever since the EAL made its statements, we have obviously been asking ourselves questions," diamond industry spokesman Peter Meeus told La Libre Belgique. "The quarter was already targeted in 1981, when terrorists attacked a Portuguese synagogue," he added. Meeus wants the Belgian government to step up even further the already tight security measures in place in the diamond sellers quarter, which is near to Antwerpâs main station. The EAL insisted that it was not trying to threaten Antwerpâs diamond traders but warn them. "We want to warn Antwerpâs Jewish community in its entirety to be on its guard. The communityâs support for Israel is no secret," Ahmed Azzuz, head of the EAL in Belgium told La Libre Belgique. "It could therefore be targeted because of its support for Zionism, in the same way that innocent people in Spain paid for their leadersâ pro-American policies during the war in Iraq. "We are not anti-Semitic. It is recent events that have led us to sound the alarm bell," he added. Posted by: Seafarious 2004-04-09 |
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