In the wake of last week's horrendous pogrom against Israeli soccer fans and Dutch Jews in Amsterdam, Dutch politicians are meeting to discuss how to tackle the problem of anti-Semitic violence by pro-Palestinian hoodlums in their country. With a more conservative government now in power, hopefully, stronger measures are coming. One of the ideas under consideration is stripping away of Dutch passports from perpetrators with dual nationality.
The article below from yesterday's NOS (NL) was translated by Fousesquawk.
NOS News Today 18:23
Schoof: Not to offend young people, but it is important to "name things"
Premier Schoof says that "in no way is it the intention to offend groups of young people", but he stresses that after the violence last week in Amsterdam, it is "important to name things". He said that today after a conversation he held with Jewish and social organizations at the Catshuis about combating anti-Semitism.
Schoof was reacting to criticism from, among others, mosque leaders and opposition parties who think that members of the cabinet have thrown "fuel on the fire" with their statements about integration problems. Several cabinet members said after the violence last week in Amsterdam that there is an integration problem.
After the end of the soccer match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv Thursday, Israelis were chased and beaten at various places in the Amsterdam inner city by small groups of rioters.
Anti-Semitic insults can be heard in the videos, and in some cases, references are also made to victims of the war in Gaza. There are also images of Maccabi supporters misbehaving.
For some, the statements of State Secretary Nobel on the violence went too far. He said yesterday that "a large part of the Islamic youth" do not subscribe to Dutch norms and values.
Wide societal problem
Schoof reiterated that "hard action must be taken" against anti-Semitism. According to him, this is a group with "a migration background" that has its "back to society" and "does not share Western values."
He thinks it is important to continue naming (the problem), but he also thinks it is important to tackle the problem "together" That's why he wants to engage in conversation with other religious and societal organizations.
After the meeting with the cabinet, Naomi Mestrum from the CIDI (Center for Information and Documentation Israel) spoke of a "constructive" conversation, in which the great need to tackle the problem of anti-Semitism and Jew hatred was discussed.
"Anti-Semitism has never been gone, it is a broad societal problem. The demonization of Jews must stop". Mestrum hopes that the cabinet will come up with a "decisive" plan of attack this week.
Taking away of Dutch passport
Indeed, the cabinet intends to come up with such a plan this week. At this morning's cabinet meeting, PVV leader Wilders and BBB leader Van der Plas argued for rigorous measures. Wilders thinks that the videos of the violence being circulated speak for themselves.
"I've been warning about this for more than 10 years. It has absolutely nothing to do with Western norms and values, but with Islamic values, and they stand opposite from ours." In addition, Van der Plas and VVD leader Yesilgöz have drawn conclusions over the background of the perpetrators. The authorities have not yet commented on that. There have been dozens arrested, but nobody has appeared before the judge as yet.
The coalition partners are thinking, among other things, about taking Dutch passports away from perpetrators of anti-Semitic violence who have dual nationality. Whether there are suspects with dual nationality among those arrested last week is still unclear, Schoof acknowledged.
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