Massive Anti‐Israel Graffiti Discovered on Belgian Train

A striking message appeared recently on a passenger railcar in Belgium: “Israel terrorist state” sprayed in bold red letters outlined in acid green, with black drips and ghostlike bomb silhouettes stretching the full length of the train car. Hours after the graffito went public, the national rail operator National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS / SNCB) removed this provocative statement.

This episode marks the second time in two months that an anti‑Israel slogan has defaced a Belgian train. Last month, a railcar bore the slogan “death to the IDF,” similarly covering an entire carriage.

In footage circulating on social media captured at Antwerp station, passengers are seen sitting with luggage or staring at their phones, seemingly oblivious to the painted message behind them. Drone footage also captured the train moving through the countryside with the graffiti still visible.

Jewish communal groups such as the Forum of Jewish Organizations expressed outrage, writing that the incident “ratchets up tension in society, increases polarization and creates a climate where antisemitism can grow.” They urged for accountability and pointed to negligence in allowing such messages to appear on a state‑owned entity.

The rail company’s historical role under Nazi occupation has been highlighted in this context. During the German occupation of Belgium, NMBS helped transport Jews and Roma to concentration camps a dark chapter the Forum said should inspire much greater vigilance today.

Lawmakers and rail officials have called for investigations into how such a blatant act of vandalism can recur so quickly on the national rail network. The recurrence in such short order raises serious questions about surveillance, prevention, and response.

It is deeply troubling that public transportation, a shared civic space, has become a backdrop for hate messaging. Such incidents remind us how antisemitic ideologies move into the public realm under cover of so‑called “protest art,” challenging the notion that Europe’s rail networks are neutral.

For Israel and its friends around the world, this episode is a wake‑up call. The people of the State of Israel stand in defiance of hatred. The values of democracy, freedom of expression and responsibility for how rhetoric affects society must prevail.

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