Belgium's Interior Minister has confirmed that federal police protection for Antwerp's Jewish quarter will end on January 1, a move that has sparked outrage and concern among Jewish community leaders. The decision comes despite ongoing security threats and follows calls for increased protection after a deadly attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney. Mayor Els van Doesburg criticized the withdrawal as 'incomprehensible' and warned against creating a security vacuum, emphasizing the need for continued cooperation to safeguard Jewish institutions. Local politicians and community members have vowed to seek alternative measures to ensure the safety of the Jewish quarter, rejecting the government's justification for the pullout as insufficient.