Belgium ready to join international coalition to fight Islamic State

Belgium is ready to take part in an international coalition against the Islamic State (IS), if it is so called upon, said outgoing prime minister Elio Di Rupo at the official reopening of the Jewish Museum of Belgium in Brussels on Sunday. The museum has been closed since May 24, when a shooting spree took place there that left two visitors and two museum employees dead.

“The tragic events of May 24 shocked our country, Europe and the rest of the world. On that day, four of our brothers and sisters were killed….On that day, the hatred of Jews, the hatred of living together, the hatred of democratic values was felt in all its horror,” said Di Rupo.

The prime minister paid tribute to the four victims before continuing: “Those who commit anti-semitic or racist crimes should be rendered harmless.

“If we are so called upon, as I have already said, I am in favour of our country taking part in a coalition of countries set on fighting the so-called Islamic State.”