We begin this edition of the Israel Under Attack newsletter with a deeply disturbing development: Violent crowds of Dutch radicals and extremists ambushed and attacked Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, who came to watch a match between Dutch and Israeli teams. Germany described the violence as “shameful for us in Europe” and the incident refocuses attention on pockets of anti-Israel and antisemitic hate emerging in major European cities. The Israeli Prime Minister has raised the possibility the violence was “planned” to target visiting Israeli citizens. Here, we unpack what’s happening following what looked like a pogrom in a major Western city:
Video shows scuffle outside Amsterdam Central station [source: Washington Post]
AMSTERDAM’S DARK NIGHT. On November 7, 2024, the usually vibrant streets of Amsterdam turned into a scene of chaos and fear. Following a match between Dutch and Israeli soccer teams, violent crowds ambushed and attacked Israeli and Jewish fans, turning what should have been a spirited sporting event into a night of dread. Eyewitnesses reported chants filled with hate and crowds surging through the streets, flares lighting up the night as tension turned to violence. Dutch law enforcement and security forces quickly mobilized, deploying units to disperse the attackers and protect pockets of Israelis under siege. Despite their efforts, the initial moments were marked by confusion and urgency, with officers forming protective barriers and directing panicked fans to safety. Preliminary investigations point to extremist groups among the attackers, reportedly linked to anti-Israel and radical elements intent on spreading their ideology through violence.
What Happened Next: Dutch law enforcement quickly intervened, escorting Israeli fans to safety and arresting dozens of suspected attackers. Israeli airline El Al announced special flights to repatriate stranded Israeli citizens, while Israel’s newly appointed foreign minister traveled to Amsterdam to meet with Dutch leaders.
HAMAS IN EUROPE? “This is what a globalized intifada looks like,”headlined the Jerusalem Post, following the Amsterdam violence. The attack underscores fears that months of anti-Israel incitement and disinformation, fueled by radical groups and extremist elements in Europe with ties to and sympathies with violent Mideast organizations, can culminate in violence spilling onto the streets of major Western cities.
PLANNED ATTACK? The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that the attacks appeared “planned” and timed with the visit of the Israeli soccer team for a match. He made this critical observation during his phone call with his Dutch counterpart, Prime Minister Dick Schoof. Prime Minister Netanyahu said the Dutch government should ensure the wellbeing of all Israelis in the Netherlands as well as the Dutch Jewish community, and that Israel “views with utmost gravity the planned antisemitic attack against Israeli citizens.” [See the statement by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office]. Another critical observation about how the attacks unfolded came from the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism (SEAS) Ambassador Deborah E. Lipstadt. She observed in a statement: “I am also deeply disturbed by how long the reported attacks lasted and call on the government to conduct a thorough investigation into security force intervention and on how these despicable attacks transpired.”[See her statement]
BUILDING A COALITION TO FIGHT ANTISEMITISM. Dutch officials spent the night of Nov. 7 and 8 coordinating with their Israeli counterparts to ensure that no Israeli citizen in Amsterdam remained unaccounted for. Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar’s emergency visit to Amsterdam was designed among other things to help Israeli diplomacy outline the need for wider consensus to fight antisemitism, including incitement against Israel. “The new antisemitism is focused on Israel and Israel’s right to exist and its right to defend itself,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry remarked in a statement on Minister Sa’ar’s talks in Amsterdam. Earlier, the Israeli Foreign Minister “emphasized the seriousness with which Israel views the widespread violent attacks against its citizens throughout Amsterdam,”in a phone call with his Dutch counterpart.
FRANCE REJECTS CALLS TO CANCEL ISRAEL SOCCER MATCH. In a strong show of support for Israel and defiance against extremist pressure, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced that France will not cancel the upcoming soccer match between Israel and France, despite recent violence in Amsterdam. Retailleau’s statement highlights the French government’s unwavering stance against intimidation by anti-Israel agitators and underscores France’s commitment to upholding democratic values in the face of an extremist onslaught. This move sends a powerful message that France will not yield to hate and violence, standing firmly with Israel and against those who seek to sow division and fear. [See Minister’s tweet and story]
EUROPE REACTS. Europe is still processing what happened, as this apparently organized attack on Jews and Israelis invokes painful memories from the past and raises urgent questions about what went wrong:
King Willem-Alexander Of The Netherlands spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who “demanded decisive action against violence and antisemitism, and assistance in the immediate evacuation of Israelis,” according to an Israeli Foreign Ministry statement.
British Ambassador To Israel, Simon Walters,said he was “horrified and appalled” by the disturbances in the Netherlands and called on the Dutch government to probe the incident.
Germany: ‘It’s Shameful For Europe.’ German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and the German Foreign Ministry said the anti-Jewish riots in the Netherlands were “deeply shameful for us in Europe.” The Ministry said in its statement: “The outbreak of such violence against Jews crosses all boundaries. There is no justification whatsoever for such violence. Jews must be safe in Europe.” [See Minister Baerbock’s statement & German Foreign Ministry’s statement]
We have also see reactionsfrom the Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Dutch Party for Freedom founder and leader Geert Wilders, Canadian Member of Parliament Melissa Lantsman, US Senate Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer, US Senator Katie Boyd Britt, Iranian-British lawyer Elica Le Bon, and philanthropist and businessman Bill Ackman.
Don’t Miss Our Statement Where We Highlight The Need To Confront Anti-Israel Incitement: American Jewish Congress Condemns International Antisemitic Incident in Amsterdam.
