After Brussels: 'They don't understand security here'

following last week's terrorist outrages in Brussels, members of Belgium's Jewish community - itself the target of a horrific attack in 2014 - have criticised the country's government over what they believe are major security failures.

Henri David, 46, a jeweller who lives with his family in Antwerp's Jewish quarter, said: "Belgian authorities have no understanding of security issues - zero."

He added that soldiers posted outside a synagogue and the city's Chabad House had told him that they guarded the area with no bullets in their rifles. "It was just a show. It's not normal," Mr David said.

Councillor Shmuli Markowitz from the Antwerp municipality, agreed there was "room for improvement".

He added, however, that "the security services are doing a good job in a difficult situation… there are over 30 shuls in Antwerp.

"We do have an open door to the mayor's office if extra protection is necessary."

A Belgian Defence Ministry spokesperson said they would look into allegations that soldiers outside synagogues did not carry live rounds.

Walter Benjamin, a Belgian Jew, lost his right leg in the second of two suicide blasts at Brussels airport.

"I probably will pack my things, get on a plane and start looking for an apartment in Israel," he said, adding that he wanted to be near his daughter, who already lives in Israel. "That's the most important thing in life for me," he added, speaking from his hospital bed in Brussels.

Mr Benjamin was walking towards the check-in desk for a flight to Israel for Purim when he thought he heard firecrackers. Twenty seconds later, a second explosion ripped into him. He was shielded from some of the shrapnel because he had been holding a large suitcase.

Mr Benjamin recalled seeing a dead person next to him after the blast and said: "I thought I was going to die." A Belgian soldier helped stop the bleeding and he was evacuated to hospital where his leg was amputated.

Nehama Sobernheim, a member of the Jewish community in Brussels, wrote in Haaretz: "My impression is that the Jewish community is reacting with the calm that the Belgian and European leaders have called for from everyone. I feel sorry that the bag checks and other security measures that have become so normalised for the Jewish community have now spread to everyone."