Crowds Protest Rising Antisemitism In Amsterdam

Crowds Protest Rising Antisemitism In Amsterdam

Stefan J. Bos

 Hundreds gathered in the center of Amsterdam Thursday to rally against rising antisemitism after the Dutch capital’s first pogrom since World War Two and an attack on pro-Israel group Christenen voor Israel (‘Christians for Israel’).

Many in the crowd had arrived in buses from across the country to express support for Israel and the Jewish people.

The event, titled “We Stand with Our Jews,” was to take place on Dam Square, but Mayor Femke Halsema prohibited it there, citing “difficulties to ensure safety on a busy Thursday shopping evening.”

Instead, the rally, organized by churches and groups such as Christians for Israel and Centraal Joods Overleg (Central Jewish Consultation), was moved to the Stopera, a building complex housing Amsterdam’s city hall and the Dutch National Opera and Ballet.

Several pro-Palestinian activist groups had announced on social media their intention to demonstrate at the rally, and police removed several.

“Tragically, we can’t rally at the Dam Square, which is in the center of Amsterdam near the National Monument for those killed in World War Two, most of them Jews,” said Christians for Israel Director Frank van Oordt in an interview.

He said it underscored the tensions in society after the Israëlcentrum (Israel Center) of his organization was attacked this week in the Dutch town of Nijkerk.

“Activists of the groups Extinction Rebellion, Justice Now and the Christen Collectief (Christian Collective) covered the building from left to right with graffiti paint,” recalled Van Oordt

“They accused us of looking away from what is happening in Gaza and that we support Israel. It was shocking for me to see that ‘Christians’ participated in the attack on our building. They are members of the Christian Collective that is publicly speaking against Israel,” he said.

It wasn’t the first time that the Israel Center of Christians for Israel was attacked, and it shows that the pressure increases, Van Oordt noticed.

“However, I would not compare it with the pressure felt by the Jewish people of the Netherlands, especially after the recent pogrom in Amsterdam. If you see how the schools need protection,” Van Oordt added.

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