In the aftermath of last Thursday’s violent incidents targeting Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam, it has become clear that the riots were quickly organized and coordinated, primarily involving Dutch immigrants of Arab and Turkish origin.
The events were preceded by an anti-Israeli demonstration near the football stadium, led by PGNL, the umbrella organization of the Palestinian community in the Netherlands, which is linked to both Islamist and Arab nationalist groups.
Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, we have witnessed a wave of anti-Israeli protests across Europe. In the Netherlands, these protests have provoked a strong backlash, influencing the results of the country’s elections in November 2023, which were won by the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV). Despite this political shift, tangible progress in addressing anti-Israeli activism remains limited. This activism continues to promote a narrative of “resistance” to Israel and its supporters framing it as a struggle against “settler-colonialism.” Although the Netherlands recently outlawed the Samidun organization, the civilian arm of the Popular Front organization, and had arrested Dutch-Palestinian activist Amin Abu Rashid prior to the war for allegedly financing Hamas, enforcement on the ground remains limited and not effective enough. Furthermore, there were reports two months ago of police officers refusing to provide security at Jewish community events due to “moral dilemmas.”
Although the events in Amsterdam were exceptional in their scope, they were not surprising given the ongoing rise in anti-Israel and antisemitic incidents across Europe. In recent years, European law enforcement agencies have increasingly recognized that the “red–green alliance”—comprising radical left groups and Islamist organizations—aims not only to harm Israel and Jewish communities but also to undermine Europe’s democratic-liberal fabric by exploiting its freedoms. More countries are now focusing on the challenges posed by social extremism and are working to identify foreign involvement within it.
Israel should assist this process by raising awareness of the international activities of Palestinian terrorist organizations, mainly Hamas and the Popular Front, and their growing influence on groups seeking to undermine the democratic-liberal order. Israel should also highlight the involvement and support of countries like Iran and Qatar in facilitating dangerous subversive activities carried out by these organizations on European soil.
In the aftermath of last Thursday’s violent incidents targeting Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam, it has become clear that the riots were quickly organized and coordinated, primarily involving Dutch immigrants of Arab and Turkish origin.
The events were preceded by an anti-Israeli demonstration near the football stadium, led by PGNL, the umbrella organization of the Palestinian community in the Netherlands, which is linked to both Islamist and Arab nationalist groups.
Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, we have witnessed a wave of anti-Israeli protests across Europe. In the Netherlands, these protests have provoked a strong backlash, influencing the results of the country’s elections in November 2023, which were won by the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV). Despite this political shift, tangible progress in addressing anti-Israeli activism remains limited. This activism continues to promote a narrative of “resistance” to Israel and its supporters framing it as a struggle against “settler-colonialism.” Although the Netherlands recently outlawed the Samidun organization, the civilian arm of the Popular Front organization, and had arrested Dutch-Palestinian activist Amin Abu Rashid prior to the war for allegedly financing Hamas, enforcement on the ground remains limited and not effective enough. Furthermore, there were reports two months ago of police officers refusing to provide security at Jewish community events due to “moral dilemmas.”
Although the events in Amsterdam were exceptional in their scope, they were not surprising given the ongoing rise in anti-Israel and antisemitic incidents across Europe. In recent years, European law enforcement agencies have increasingly recognized that the “red–green alliance”—comprising radical left groups and Islamist organizations—aims not only to harm Israel and Jewish communities but also to undermine Europe’s democratic-liberal fabric by exploiting its freedoms. More countries are now focusing on the challenges posed by social extremism and are working to identify foreign involvement within it.
Israel should assist this process by raising awareness of the international activities of Palestinian terrorist organizations, mainly Hamas and the Popular Front, and their growing influence on groups seeking to undermine the democratic-liberal order. Israel should also highlight the involvement and support of countries like Iran and Qatar in facilitating dangerous subversive activities carried out by these organizations on European soil.