By Worthy News’ Johan Th. Bos in Amsterdam and Stefan J. Bos in Budapest
WASHINGTON/BUDAPEST/AMSTERDAM (Worthy News) – The Dutch prime minister pledged Saturday to ensure that the Jewish community in his country “feels safe” after U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the Netherlands’ worst antisemitic attacks since World War Two.
Dick Schoof, who was recently appointed as the Dutch government leader, said he had met Gideon Saar, Israel’s newly appointed foreign minister, to discuss the crisis.
Violence late Thursday and Friday saw Israeli soccer fans being hunted by Arab Muslims, described by authorities as “scooter youths” in Amsterdam, the capital.
Footage reviewed by Worthy News showed Israelis being smashed and kicked to the ground and being forced to say “Free Palestine.” Dozens were injured, some requiring hospitalization, officials confirmed.
“After an in-depth conversation yesterday evening with representatives of Amsterdam’s Jewish community, I met today with the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gidon Saar,” Schoof explained.
“We spoke about his impressions and experiences during his brief visit to the Netherlands. The events in Amsterdam affected him deeply, and he expressed his serious concern about and revulsion at the rise in antisemitism,” Schoof added.
PROTECTING JEWS
“I told him the Dutch government was doing everything to ensure that the Jewish community in this country feels safe,” the prime minister said.
He also recalled that he spoke with Jewish representatives “about the fear within the Jewish community” as the violence had an “enormous impact” on Jews and others
living in Amsterdam
The talks came as the Netherlands faced pressure from the United States, with U.S. President Baden saying the “Antisemitic attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam are despicable and echo dark moments in history when Jews were persecuted.”
Following the attacks, Dutch police arrested scores of people, but few remained detained Saturday.
Although this is the third time of massive antisemitic violence within a few months, the visibly agitated Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said she would not resign.
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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