Amsterdam
The Dutch capital remains tense after a surge of violence last week targeting Israeli soccer fans. Israeli supporters were assaulted, Palestinian flags were torn down, and antisemitic slurs echoed through the city during the riots. Although calm has returned, local residents and officials fear the underlying tensions have yet to fully surface.
“It’s not just antisemitism at play—it’s a combination of anti-Muslim racism and xenophobia too,” says Sheher Khan, a city councilor and leader of a local party focused on combating institutional racism and Islamophobia. “Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ve reached the peak of this unrest. The root causes of these tensions are still unaddressed.”
Clashing Narratives and Rising Tensions
Khan attributes much of the unrest to the Dutch government's support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The Netherlands has a significant Muslim population, estimated at around 1 million, many of whom have been vocal in their support for Palestinians. “We have a far-right government that is quick to scapegoat minorities, particularly Muslims, for societal issues,” Khan added.
The timeline of how the violence began varies depending on whom you ask. Some residents believe the spark was ignited when Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer fans vandalized taxis, pulled down Palestinian flags, and chanted racist slogans such as "f**k the Arabs," celebrating Israeli military actions. This provoked retaliatory attacks on Israeli supporters, leading to multiple injuries and hospitalizations. According to Mayor Femke Halsema, the rioters targeted the Israeli fans in coordinated, small-group "hit-and-run" assaults.
Others argue that the violence is a result of years of growing far-right extremism, antisemitism, and xenophobia in the Netherlands and across Europe. “It’s like a toxic cocktail mixing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and the broader geopolitical conflict between Israel and Palestine,” noted Itay Garmy, a Dutch-Israeli city councilor. He cautioned against downplaying the antisemitism, especially after social media posts suggested a “hunt on Jews,” amplifying fear among Amsterdam’s Jewish community.
Fear and Divisive Rhetoric
Jewish residents now report being afraid to wear identifiable symbols like the Star of David or kippah in public. Many have even changed their names on ride-sharing apps to avoid being recognized as Jewish. Garmy also pointed out the role of political figures in escalating tensions. He criticized both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right Dutch leader Geert Wilders for using the violence to further their political agendas. Wilders has proposed revoking Dutch citizenship for those involved in the attacks, a move seen as inflammatory by many.
Local authorities, including Mayor Halsema, have faced backlash from Muslim and pro-Palestinian groups for not acknowledging the aggressive actions of the Maccabi supporters and presenting a one-sided narrative of the events.
Efforts for De-escalation
Despite the heated atmosphere, some local leaders are striving for dialogue and peace. Garmy and Khan, who have a history of organizing community discussions, believe open communication is key to reducing prejudice and misunderstandings. Khan fears the government is deliberately stoking divisions within Dutch communities to maintain control.
Faith leaders are also stepping in to mediate. Abdelaziz Chandoudi, a local Imam and head of Moroccan mosques in the Noord-Holland region, has been holding talks with community members, urging for calm and compassion. In his sermons, he has encouraged parents to speak with their children about avoiding violence and maintaining peace. “From day one, we’ve tried to use the mosques to de-escalate the situation,” Chandoudi said. He emphasized that it’s unfair to solely blame Moroccan youth for the unrest, as some right-wing politicians have suggested. “They are Dutch youth, and Amsterdam is a diverse city where many nationalities coexist,” he added.
The Broader Context
The recent violence comes at a time of heightened political polarization in the Netherlands. Last month, far-right populist Geert Wilders and his Freedom Party (PVV) won the most seats in the Dutch parliament, shocking many with their anti-Islam, anti-immigration stance. Wilders has already called for a parliamentary debate on the attacks against Israeli fans, further inflaming the situation.
Amidst the unrest, local Jewish leaders and officials have cautioned against using charged rhetoric. Jaïr Stranders, a board member of the Liberal Jewish Community of Amsterdam, condemned the inflammatory language from both Dutch and Israeli politicians. He expressed concern that some in the Jewish community are heightening fear by drawing historical parallels to pogroms, which may exacerbate tensions rather than alleviate them.
Stranders pointed out that while antisemitism often comes from far-right groups, it can also emerge from left-wing and Muslim communities, particularly when criticism of Israel crosses into hostility against Jewish people. “Sometimes it starts as criticism of Israel’s policies but then morphs into outright antisemitism,” he explained.
At a recent pro-Palestinian protest in Amsterdam’s Dam Square, the crowd’s chants reflected a mix of anti-war sentiment and hostility. While many called for an end to the bombings in Gaza, others shouted more aggressive slogans like “f**k Israel,” illustrating the deep-seated emotions and divisions at play.
As the city grapples with these complex and interwoven issues, leaders across communities are calling for restraint, dialogue, and understanding to prevent further violence. The challenge remains finding a path forward that acknowledges the pain and grievances of all sides without inflaming the already volatile situation.
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