Embassy of Belgium in Tel Aviv

Embassy of Belgium in Tel Aviv Shalom! Marhaba! Hallo! Salut! Hello! The Embassy of � Belgium wishes you a warm welcome to its page. Click to find out more about us! Jean-Luc BODSON

Dear compatriots,
Dear Israeli friends of Belgium,

It is with great enthusiasm that I take up my functions as Ambassador of Belgium in Israel. My wife and I have always felt a deep interest for the fascinating history of Israel. It is therefore a privilege for us to be here and we look forward to getting acquainted with the country and its people. Belgium and Israel have many points in common: t

wo “start-up nations” with a network of young, dynamic, highly performing and innovating companies. Both countries also put great value on research and development and have a very good record in the collaboration between the universities and the business world. In the field of culture too, both Israel and Belgium have a very vibrant artistic scene. Relations between Belgium and Israel in these fields and in general are very good. I intend to pursue the efforts of my predecessor Olivier Belle in strengthening them even further. Together with my colleagues of the European Union I will also strive to assist our governments to promote peace in the region. I can for these purposes count on a very competent and dedicated staff. It is also a comfort for me to know that Israel is home to a large community of Belgians, the majority of whom have also the Israeli nationality. I know I can rely on them to be a bridge between our two countries.

🇧🇪 Happy National Day!Belgium has 3 official languages, 6 governments and a state structure built around the idea that p...
21/07/2026

🇧🇪 Happy National Day!

Belgium has 3 official languages, 6 governments and a state structure built around the idea that people who differ can still build something together.

It’s the conviction we bring to our work here.

Warm wishes to all Belgians & our friends in Israel!

🖤💛❤️

Yesterday, the Embassy of Belgium in Israel, in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to the State of Is...
08/07/2026

Yesterday, the Embassy of Belgium in Israel, in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel, hosted a HaSalon Symposium at the Residence of Belgium: “Israeli Voices on a Credible Pathway to a Two-State Framework: Economic Cooperation toward a Political Horizon.”

The discussion aimed to go beyond slogans and ask what can be done now — practically, responsibly, and with a view to the future — to create stronger conditions for regional stability and political progress between Israelis and Palestinians.

At a time when hope can feel fragile, conversations like this matter. They do not offer easy answers, but they help keep open the space for responsibility, imagination, and political courage.

We were honored to bring together Israeli voices from the fields of economics, diplomacy, academia, and civil society, alongside European perspectives, for a serious conversation on Palestinian economic independence, institutional capacity, territorial realities, shared systems, implementation, and the role of international partners.

While yesterday’s discussion highlighted Israeli perspectives, it naturally concerns both peoples and both realities. We therefore especially appreciated the presence of several colleagues from the Consulate General in Jerusalem and from Representative Offices in Ramallah.

Warm thanks to our speakers and moderator: Prof. Zvi Eckstein, May Pundak, Col. (Ret.) Dr. Shaul Arieli, Nadav Tamir, H.E. Ambassador Michael Mann, and Tal Schneider, who guided the discussion with professionalism and care.


Diplomatie.Belgium
European Union in Israel

This morning, the Embassy of Belgium was delighted to welcome Debate for Peace — a diverse group of 20 young Israelis, f...
06/07/2026

This morning, the Embassy of Belgium was delighted to welcome Debate for Peace — a diverse group of 20 young Israelis, from high school to university age, who have made a choice: to come together with peers from across the country, to listen, to learn, to debate, and to get to know one another.

Ambassador Stefaan Thijs spoke with the group about Belgium’s complex federal system, including the different communities, regions, and institutions that make up the Belgian Federal State. While every society is different, Belgium’s experience offers an interesting lesson: diversity does not only require separate systems or representation — it also requires the “glue” of shared institutions, dialogue, compromise, and a continued commitment to keeping society working together.

The young participants asked excellent questions, showing real intelligence, curiosity, and a desire to understand not only Belgium, but also the wider world and their own place in it as tomorrow’s leaders.

We were especially inspired by their openness to continue the conversation — including their interest in meeting peers in Belgium and learning from one another across borders.

Warm thanks to Steven Aiello, Founder and Director of Debate for Peace, who has been involved in Jewish-Arab Model UN work in Israel since 2011, for organizing this meaningful visit and for his continued commitment to creating spaces where young people can meet, learn, and lead together.


Diplomatie.Belgium

Our Ambassador, Stefaan Thijs, was deeply moved to visit Sheba Hospital Global Healthcare Services.The visit took place ...
02/07/2026

Our Ambassador, Stefaan Thijs, was deeply moved to visit Sheba Hospital Global Healthcare Services.

The visit took place on a day of particular significance, as we mark 1,000 days since October 7. Against this painful backdrop, the Ambassador met with patients, families, physicians, and nurses, and witnessed the quiet, extraordinary work being done every day.

Sheba’s Global Healthcare Services provides specialized care to patients from across the region, including patients from the West Bank with complex diagnoses who require advanced medical treatment, as well as patients from Gaza who have been at Sheba for more than 1,000 days.

Meeting some of these patients and their families was a powerful reminder that behind every medical case is a human story — of courage, uncertainty, care, and hope.

Beyond Sheba’s medical excellence, what stood out most was the humanity: the dignity extended to every person, the compassion of the medical teams, and the deep commitment to healing even when the world outside feels fractured.

Warm thanks to Vered Cohen-herszaft, Chief of Sheba Tel HaShomer Global Division , and to Raied Baloum, Director of Regional Patient Services, for their generous welcome and for sharing this inspiring work with us.

We are especially grateful to Raghad Zoabi from Regional Patient Services for organizing such a meaningful visit.

Our sincere thanks also to Prof. Assaf Barg, Senior Physician in the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Department, and to Dr. Hana Golan, Deputy Director and Head of the Day Care Service of the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Division at Sheba Medical Center, for taking the time to speak with us and share the deeply human side of their life-saving work.



Sheba Medical Center Diplomatie.Belgium

Ambassador Stefaan Thijs and Mr. Jameel Istaitih, Investment & Trade Commissioner of Flanders, had the pleasure of visit...
25/06/2026

Ambassador Stefaan Thijs and Mr. Jameel Istaitih, Investment & Trade Commissioner of Flanders, had the pleasure of visiting Afeka Tel Aviv Academic College of Engineering and meeting the talented people behind its innovative educational programs.

During the visit, we received an overview of Afeka’s faculties and its hands-on approach to engineering education — combining academic knowledge, industry collaboration, practical skills development, and real-world technological challenges.

A special highlight was meeting the Afeka Racing Team, a group of passionate and dedicated students who have been working for months on designing and developing, almost from scratch, a new solar-powered vehicle concept.
The team will represent Israel at the iLumen European Solar Challenge, taking place this September at Circuit Zolder in Flanders, Belgium 🇧🇪.

This international 24-hour endurance race brings together student teams from around the world and challenges them to push the boundaries of sustainable mobility, energy efficiency, innovation, and teamwork — relying on solar power, smart energy management, and engineering excellence.

Initiatives like these demonstrate how technology, education, and innovation can connect people across borders. The global challenges of tomorrow — from clean energy to future mobility — require international cooperation, creativity, and the passion of the next generation.

We wish the Afeka Racing Team great success in Belgium and look forward to seeing their innovation on the track at Circuit Zolder!

We would like to thank our hosts Dr. Dan Hermann, Head of the Automotive Systems Program, Mr. Alon Barnea, VP Development & Strategic Alliances, and Ms. Karen Ben-Haim, Head of Ofek – Skills Development Centers, for the warm welcome and the inspiring discussions.


Diplomatie.Belgium

Yesterday in Nazareth, the Ambassador participated in an event hosted by the Arab Cultural Associations Forum and the Ar...
12/06/2026

Yesterday in Nazareth, the Ambassador participated in an event hosted by the Arab Cultural Associations Forum and the Arab Council for Foreign Relations.

The discussion highlighted the important contribution of Arab cultural organizations in Israel to cultural life, artistic innovation, heritage preservation, and community development.

Participants also addressed the structural challenges many of these organizations continue to face, including limited resources, infrastructure gaps, and barriers to international engagement.

A key theme of the event was the call for strengthening partnerships between the Arab cultural organizations, foreign embassies, and international cultural institutions. Such cooperation can help expand opportunities for artists, support cultural exchange, and build lasting connections between communities.

We welcome this dialogue and look forward to exploring concrete opportunities for future collaboration.



Diplomatie.Belgium

Last week, we had the privilege of meeting Robi Damelin of the פורום המשפחות השכולות Parents Circle Families Forum منتدى...
11/06/2026

Last week, we had the privilege of meeting Robi Damelin of the פורום המשפחות השכולות Parents Circle Families Forum منتدى العائلات الثكلى, a joint Israeli-Palestinian organisation of more than 850 bereaved members who have each lost an immediate family member to the conflict.

Together they work to transform profound personal grief into a driving force for reconciliation and peace.
Robi is the beating heart of the organisation: an impressive, deeply eloquent Israeli woman who travels the world urging people to bring more nuance to the way they think. She lost her son David, killed by a Palestinian sniper while serving in the IDF.
Rather than let that loss harden into bitterness, she chose to turn her torment into a tool, to spare others from joining what she calls "this less than desirable club of loss."

Her message stayed with us: peace begins with the courage to see the humanity in the other side, even, and especially, in our deepest pain. There's no other way forward than peace.

Thank you, Robi, for the conversation and the inspiration, and let's work together 🕊️

Diplomatie.Belgium Israël en Belgique - Israël in België Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Stefaan Thijs Elke Pattyn

🎬 The Embassy of Belgium in Israel was proud to support the screening of four Belgian films at Docaviv דוקאביב, one of t...
10/06/2026

🎬 The Embassy of Belgium in Israel was proud to support the screening of four Belgian films at Docaviv דוקאביב, one of the world’s leading documentary film festivals.

Our Ambassador opened the screening of Donn, the Dancer of the XXth Century - the remarkable story of Jorge Donn, an artist whose talent and presence left a lasting mark on the world of dance. A story of love, resilience, courage, and the strength to live authentically.

Both the Belgian and Israeli people understand the importance of protecting open democratic spaces where freedom of expression, creativity, and human dignity can flourish. In an age shaped by algorithms and growing polarization, documentary films invite us to slow down, listen, and see the world through someone else’s eyes - holding a mirror to the complexities of our societies and the values we share.

Thanks to DocAviv, the filmmakers, our partner Lotus Biscoff Israel, and everyone who joined us. 🇧🇪🇮🇱

Diplomatie.Belgium Stefaan Thijs Biscoff

10/06/2026

הגיבו כאן👇🏼כדי להצטרף אלינו להופעה של יסמין מועלם ביום אירופה 2026 🎉🇪🇺

האיחוד האירופי חוגג את יום אירופה ואתם מוזמנים ומוזמנות! אנחנו מעניקים כרטיסים לערב יום אירופה עם הופעה של יסמין מועלם בהיכל התרבות בתל אביב, לצד יריד מדינות האיחוד האירופי והופעה של מקהלת ראנה.

——

אז מה זה בכלל יום אירופה? שאלה טובה 🧐

זה היום שבו אנחנו מציינים את הצהרת שומאן ההיסטורית משנת 1950, שנחשבת לרגע המכונן שהניח את היסודות לאיחוד האירופי.

בשיר המוכר של יסמין מועלם ״יהיה טוב״ יש משפט שאומר: ״גם מתוך החושך יידלק האור״. זה בדיוק מה שקרה באירופה אחרי מלחמת העולם השנייה, כשמדינות שבעבר נלחמו זו בזו בחרו בדרך חדשה של שלום, שיתוף פעולה ותקווה לעתיד משותף.

——

איך מקבלים כרטיסים לאירוע?

🔹 עוקבים אחרי העמוד שלנו

🔹 מספרים לנו כאן בתגובות 👇 על משהו או מישהו שנותן לכם תקווה לעתיד טוב יותר (כאן בשכונה, אצלנו באירופה, או בכלל בעולם)

העוקבים והעוקבות שיגרמו לנו לחייך יקבלו מאיתנו זוג כרטיסים לאירוע.

📨 אל תשכחו לבדוק את האינבוקס לעדכון מאיתנו!

——

יום אירופה 2026 🇪🇺🎉 | יום רביעי, 24 ביוני 2026 | היכל התרבות תל אביב (אולם צוקר)

נתראה שם 🙏🏻

🔹🔹🔹🔹

Comment below 👇🏼 for a chance to join us for Yasmin Mualem’s performance at Europe Day 2026 🎉🇪🇺

The European Union is celebrating Europe Day, and you’re invited! We’re giving away tickets to a special Europe Day evening featuring a live performance by Yasmin Mualem at the Tel Aviv Culture Hall, alongside a European Union Countries Fair and a performance by the Rana Choir.

——

So what is Europe Day, anyway? Good question 🧐

It’s the day we celebrate the historic Schuman Declaration of 1950, widely considered the founding moment that laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the European Union.

In Yasmin Mualem’s well-known song “Yihiye Tov” (“It Will Be Good”), she sings: “Even from the darkness, the light will shine.” This is exactly what happened in Europe after World War II, when countries that had once fought one another chose a new path of peace, cooperation, and hope for a shared future.

——

How do you get tickets to the event?

🔹 Follow our page

🔹 Tell us in the comments below 👇 about something or someone that gives you hope for a better future (here in the neighborhood, in Europe, or anywhere in the world)

The followers who make us smile will receive a pair of tickets to the event.

📨 Don’t forget to check your inbox for an update from us!

——

Europe Day 2026 🇪🇺🎉 | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 | Tel Aviv Culture Hall (Zucker Hall)

See you there 🙏🏻

Yesterday we visited OneFamily Together, an Israeli humanitarian NGO led by a remarkable woman from Antwerp: Chantal Bel...
04/06/2026

Yesterday we visited OneFamily Together, an Israeli humanitarian NGO led by a remarkable woman from Antwerp: Chantal Belzberg. 🇧🇪

In 2001, after the Sbarro bombing in Jerusalem, Chantal founded OneFamily together with her husband and their daughter. This year she received the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement — Israel’s highest civilian honour.

For more than two decades, OneFamily has walked alongside families struck by terror and war: bereaved parents, widows, orphans, siblings and the wounded. Not only in the first difficult hours, but for the long road that follows.

We listened to the testimonies of people who have lost so much, and were deeply moved by their honesty and their courage to keep going.

We are proud that a woman from Belgium is at the heart of this humanitarian work. And we are grateful to everyone at OneFamily who carries it forward, day after day. 🤍

Diplomatie.Belgium Israël en Belgique - Israël in België Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Stefaan Thijs Elke Pattyn

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Derech Aba Hillel 12 (15th Floor)
Ramat Gan
52506

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