Belgium apologises for role in persecution of Jews

Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt faced frail men in dark fedoras and children in bright skullcaps today and solemnly apologised for the role Belgian authorities played in the deportation of Jews to Nazi extermination camps during the Second World War.

“Only by recognising the responsibility of the authorities at the time can we build a future where this will never happen again,” he told a gathering of Jewish and government officials before unveiling a plaque in Brussels to commemorate Belgians who saved Jews from the Holocaust.

The apology came on the day the government-backed report Submissive Belgium was published.

It meticulously lays bare the responsibility of high officials and municipalities in collaborating with the Nazi persecution of the Jews.

Mr Verhofstadt said such collaboration extended to many parts of Europe.