Belgium: Terrorist shooting underlines tense mood in Europe

Attacks in Belgium, France and beyond have Europe on high alert. With global tension soaring over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the risks of violent polarization in Europe are stark, experts warn.

The recent attacks in Belgium and France are not at the scale of those carried out or inspired by IS in Europe from 2014 onwards, when at the peak of its power the militant Islamist group presided over a now-defeated proto-state.

But they come at a moment of heightened tension in the Middle East and the wider world. Israel has declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas following massive terrorist attacks on Israeli territory.

At present, there is no immediate connection between these events and the two attacks in France and Belgium, Amelie Godefroidt of KU Leuven University in Belgium told DW. However, the renewed tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are serving "to reactivate long-standing grievances," Godefroidt said. While Sweden's Quran burnings seem to be the likely trigger for the Brussels attack, the perpetrator had also reportedly posted in solidarity with the Palestinian people, Godefroidt said. Many others also do so, she said.

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