As in the United States, conversation in Europe today will doubtless be dominated by the decision of six central banks, among them the European Central Bank, to cut interest rates by half a point in yet another measure to stem financial chaos. Very few people will be talking about another challenge with potentially far-reaching consequences: whether the Belgian state remains intact.

Belgium, as I wrote recently, is regarded as a model by many advocates of the so-called “one state solution.” In an excellent piece for the BBC today, Henri Astier reports on the national tensions which underpin new talks to end the country’s 16-month political paralysis:

Bloody ethnic strife is not about to break out in Brussels’ leafy suburbs - but the war of words can get nasty.

Militant groups such as the Taal Aktie Komitee (TAK), specialise in vandalising non-Dutch billboards and facilities.

One Overijse business whose owner has been resisting official requests to change its English-language sign - “textile repair shop” - is regularly spray-painted with “Nederlands” (”Dutch”) graffiti.

Some shopkeepers feel under such pressure that they will only speak under condition of anonymity.

One, in Tervuren, says Belgium’s government crisis has poisoned the atmosphere, and led to many Flemish people boycotting his restaurant.

“Over the past 15 months our sales have fallen by 35%,” he says. “I’m from a mixed family. I grew up speaking both Dutch and French, I find it sad that it has come to this.”

In another suburb, “Jeff” says local officials are encouraging people to report any non-Dutch in-store advertising, adding that he once received a letter complaining about some ads in his food shop.

“I cannot bear for people to tell me how to run my business,” Jeff says. “Most of my customers are non-Dutch speakers. If I speak only Dutch, I might as well close up shop.”

In fact that is exactly what Jeff is doing. He is moving to France.

I sincerely hope that a decent resolution can be reached in Belgium which doesn’t result in people leaving their homes and businesses through frustration. But what is happening there should caution us against forcing Israelis and Palestinians, whose conflicts are much, much worse, into a unitary state.