Netherlands Promises To Protect Jews After Biden Condemns Antisemitic Attacks

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.

Latest Stories from Worthy News

Ireland: 12,000 people participate in first-ever “March for Jesus” in Dublin
Ireland: 12,000 people participate in first-ever “March for Jesus” in Dublin
Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Around 12,000 people of all ages last month took part in the first “March for Jesus” ever held in Ireland’s capital city of Dublin, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports.

Trump Calls for a Digital Bill of Rights to Restore Freedom of Speech (Video)
Trump Calls for a Digital Bill of Rights to Restore Freedom of Speech (Video)
Tuesday, November 12, 2024

President-Elect Trump has called for a the end of censorship and called for Congress to pass a ‘digital bill of rights’ in order to restore freedom of speech to U.S. citizens.

UN Backs Artificial Intelligence For Army (Worthy News Investigation)
UN Backs Artificial Intelligence For Army (Worthy News Investigation)
Tuesday, November 12, 2024

A United Nations General Assembly committee has adopted the U.N.’s first-ever resolution on the “responsible” military use of artificial intelligence (AI), Dutch and South Korean officials confirmed Monday.

Trump May Bring Peace After Drone Strikes Target Moscow, Ukraine
Trump May Bring Peace After Drone Strikes Target Moscow, Ukraine
Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Kyiv and Moscow expressed hope that the return of Donald J. Trump to the White House may speed up ending Europe’s deadliest since the Second World War after Ukraine and Russia engaged in their most significant drone strikes in years.

China Seen Working On Nuclear Aircraft Carrier
China Seen Working On Nuclear Aircraft Carrier
Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Communist-run China is working on its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier after Chinese leader Xi Jinping told his army to prepare for war, several sources confirmed Tuesday.