Israeli Embassy Condemns Anti-Israel Presentation at Antwerp School
An Antwerp Catholic high school geography class featured pro-Palestinian activists discussing the Nakba and displaying disputed maps, sparking a sharp rebuke from Israel's embassy.
A geography class at a Catholic high school in Antwerp, Belgium, turned into an anti-Israel presentation on Wednesday, according to the Israeli embassy. Pro-Palestinian activists were invited to the classroom by a teacher, prompting sharp criticism from diplomatic officials after footage surfaced on social media showing the classroom covered in Palestinian flags.
The incident took place at the KNMC Merksem Catholic high school, also known as JOMA. According to Israeli Ambassador David Saranga, activists from the organization Antwerp for Palestine were invited to address the students, where they discussed the Nakba and condemned Israel. In one of the videos shared online, an activist can be heard telling students that people take to the streets worldwide on May 15 to commemorate the Nakba and that they live with the dream of returning to Palestine.
During the session, maps were presented depicting the entirety of the territory from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea as belonging exclusively to Palestine. Students were also taught about the Palestinian keffiyeh, which was described as a symbol of resistance.
Ambassador Saranga condemned the incident on social media, questioning whether adopting a political narrative based on false historical claims is part of the curriculum. The ambassador announced that he will raise the issue directly with the regional education minister to demand an official inspection and an explanation regarding who authorized the guest lecture.
