Statement by Minister Veldkamp about the violence against supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam
Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp about the violence against supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam, following a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. Amsterdam, 9 November 2024.
Good to receive my Israeli colleague, Gideon Sa'ar, in Amsterdam today, in light of the antisemitic events that took place in the Dutch capital this week.
The 9th of November is a date that is inextricably linked to Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, in 1938.
This black page of history was commemorated at the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam last Thursday.
Only hours later, Israeli football fans visiting the city were attacked.
There is no justification for this violence. It was a blatant, unacceptable display of antisemitism.
Sadly, these incidents are not isolated.
A new kind of antisemitism is steadily increasing across Europe, including in the Netherlands.
We know that Jewish people no longer feel safe wearing a yarmulke in public, and that’s a shame.
It’s tragic that we take for granted that synagogues, Jewish schools and other buildings require special protection.
Today, I told my Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, how horrified we are by what happened.
I’m grateful that I could do that in person and I appreciate him coming to Amsterdam.
I told him that we will identify who those thugs are. Meanwhile, I assured him that the Dutch government will do everything in its power to combat antisemitism.
There is no place for it in the Netherlands, nor in Europe.
The Netherlands will also advocate tackling antisemitism at a European level, encouraging member states to urgently develop national strategies to combat Jew-hatred.
Education plays a vital role, especially on the Holocaust and Europe’s history of antisemitism.
Jewish students and citizens who encounter antisemitism in public must be protected.
I also want to reaffirm that those responsible for this week’s attacks will be identified and prosecuted.
An independent investigation will examine the events, preparations and actions taken by the authorities.
During my meeting with Mr Sa’ar in Amsterdam, I reflected on these developments with a heavy heart, but also with unbending resolve.
We must ensure the safety of our Jewish citizens and our Jewish visitors.
This country rests on a strong foundation of mutual respect, liberty and justice.
This is a responsibility we take very seriously.