Link to Article:https://www.dailywire.com/news/jews-attacked-in-amsterdam-pogrom-after-israeli-teams-soccer-match
On November 7, 2024, with the catalyst of the Israeli Soccer match in Amsterdam, pro-Palestinian protests began which dissolved into what was described as a “pogrom” according to witnesses and videos. A pro-Palestinian group had plans a protest during the Israeli Soccer match, but the protest was banned by Amsterdam’s mayor Femke Halsema for the possibility of “violent confrontations”. However it is reported that rioting broke out when groups of people began chanting Palestinian slogans at the visiting Israeli fans. Chaos ensued with security barriers being knocked drown, physical confrontations including a person assumed to be an Israeli citizen being thrown into the water as another man orders, “Say ‘free Palestine’ and we go”. Prime Minister Netanyahu sent two airplanes to Amsterdam to pull visiting Israeli citizens out of the city and asked that the Dutch government help to ensure the safety of his people.
The Israeli/Gaza conflict exists far outside the Middle East. Europe has taken in many Middle Eastern immigrants who seem to have carried the conflict with them over the last few years. Using the soccer match as a foundation for the original protest is unsurprising as sports have become increasingly intertwined with politics over the last century. What’s more surprising is that an event like this has not happened sooner than in the Netherlands, with Amsterdam, in particular, holding a sizeable Jewish population. The Netherlands understands the meaning and usage of the word ‘Pogrom,’ and I imagine they do not use it lightly. Depending on whether it was the government or citizens who were using the word could be very telling into the entire situation.
The two main stakeholders are Israel and The Netherlands, specifically Amsterdam. Israel has already responded to the situation by pulling Israeli citizens out of Amsterdam as quickly as possible and asking that the authorities take action against the riots and rioters. Amsterdam has a few different ways to respond that could change how they have approached the conflict. The Netherlands does not Recognize Palestine as a state; if they stay quiet and do not condemn the protest, then that could call into question their stance on Palestine’s statehood. Suppose The Netherlands makes a statement that they will look into the riots. In that case, that may lead the world to believe that the Netherlands supports Israel, which would most likely anger any pro-Palestine citizens and could result in more protest.
We can break down the situation further into levels of analysis to better understand where The Netherlands may land with its decision. On a global scale, the Netherlands has little influence as it is not one of the leading seven countries. However, the Netherlands is still a part of many IGOs, and making bold statements could also pull other countries into making statements about the war. On the Interstate level, the Netherlands has a long history with the Jewish people, mainly due to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands and stories like the Frank Family. If the Netherlands keeps quiet, it could call its relations with Israel and the Jewish people into question. While the prior standings between the two are not mentioned, Israel calling for the Dutch Government’s help is an indicator that Israel hopes the Netherlands will lean closer to their side. On the Domestic Level, as previously stated, Amsterdam has a large Jewish population who most likely sympathize with Israel. But with an uptick in Arab immigration, Amsterdam now also hosts many people who sympathize with Gaza. Picking or not picking a side will most likely betray some portion of the population, leaving Amsterdam in a complicated position, whether they want to keep peace or stay neutral. The article does not mention much about any individuals. We know that the mayor of Amsterdam banned the initial idea for the protest as she was concerned about any violence that could arise. Based on that, one thought it is plausible to say that she may have answered the request of the Israeli government, but there is not enough information to make any definite judgment.