The unrest surrounding Maccabi Tel Aviv's match in Amsterdam has resulted in violent clashes, exposing deeper political and social tensions in Europe.
Police in Amsterdam had their hands full controlling fights between supporters of the Israeli football club and pro-Palestinian protesters last night. In addition, a taxi driver was attacked, which led to an angry reaction from other taxi drivers, who entered into conflict with the football fans. The incident took place at a casino on the Max Euweplein, where officers eventually had to intervene to calm things down.
The incident has caused a great deal of commotion in Israel. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that ten Israelis have not been contacted since the incident. Although they are not considered 'missing', the foreign media assumed that their phones were stolen or damaged during the unrest. The ministry emphasizes that the list of names is not yet complete and may change.
pitch black night
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema speaks of a pitch-black night, which is still dark, and expresses her condolences to the victims and their families, here and in Israel. “Boys on scooters criss-crossed the city looking for Israeli football supporters. It was a hit and run. I understand very well that this brings back the memory of pogroms.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has spoken to King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, according to The Times of Israel. During this conversation, Herzog indicated that the events in Amsterdam were reminiscent of “dark and grim times for the Jewish people.”
He stressed that the violence must be condemned unconditionally and called on the Dutch authorities to ensure the safety of Israelis and the Jewish community in the Netherlands. King Willem-Alexander expressed his deep dismay and horror at the attacks. He stated: “We failed the Jewish community in the Netherlands during the Second World War, and last night we failed again.”
Condemnations are also being heard from other European countries. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reacted with shock and disgust at the images from Amsterdam, which she described as “terrible and deeply embarrassing for Europe.” In a message on X, she emphasized that the violence against Jews crosses all boundaries and that there is no justification for it. She emphasized that Jews must be able to feel safe in Europe.
During a press conference, the Amsterdam triangle (mayor, police and justice) describes the events of last night in the capital.
Meanwhile, Israeli airline El Al has organized extra flights to the Netherlands to bring Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters back to Israel. Initially, the plan was to send military rescue teams, but this was later abandoned. The extra flights are free for all passengers who had already booked a return ticket, regardless of the airline they initially flew with. The first flight departs from Amsterdam at 14.00 p.m., in addition to the regular El Al flights that were already scheduled from Schiphol.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar leaves for the Netherlands today for talks with his Dutch counterpart, Minister Veldkamp. He will also meet with members of the Jewish community in the Netherlands and Israelis present. In an earlier statement, Sa'ar called the incident "barbaric and anti-Semitic" and warned that it was a "loud alarm for Europe and the world."
The violent incidents surrounding the Maccabi Tel Aviv match highlight the growing tensions and complexity of the situation in Europe around antisemitism and the ongoing political controversy surrounding Israel and Palestine. While Israel and other international actors are calling for action and protection, European governments are faced with the challenge of ensuring security and preventing the escalation of such incidents in the future.
The Center for Information and Documentation Israel (CIDI) says it is shocked by the violence last night. The organization describes the events as a “Jew hunt”, “just when we were commemorating Kristallnacht”.
