Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Monday described as “pure and simple anti-Semitic violence” the attacks which targeted Israeli supporters last week in Amsterdam, on the sidelines of a match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
“Four days after the attacks, the shock, shame and anger continue. It was anti-Semitic violence, pure and simple. “We need strong action” against the perpetrators of these acts, Mr. Schoof said during a press conference, before adding that “intolerance cannot be treated with tolerance”.
Between 20 and 30 Maccabi fans were injured overnight from Thursday to Friday after being attacked by groups of individuals who, according to Dutch police, had responded to a call to target Jews launched on social media .
“I also know that there are images of the behavior of Maccabi supporters. This too is being examined and it is important that all the facts are brought to light,” Mr. Schoof said.
Maccabi supporters burned a Palestinian flag in the central Dam Square and vandalized a taxi, Amsterdam police chief Peter Holla said on Friday.
“But there is a big difference between destroying things and driving out Jews,” said the head of the Dutch government.
The clashes occurred against a backdrop of rising anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli acts since the start of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas a little over a year ago in the Gaza Strip.
The Dutch police in charge of the investigation are interested in images from surveillance cameras, as well as those filmed by witnesses.
They are examining the attacks against Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters, but also the behavior of the latter, Dutch media assured.
The match took place on Thursday in a generally calm atmosphere, even if some Israeli supporters did not respect the minute of silence in memory of the victims of the floods in Spain, a country which recently recognized the State of Palestine.
In a video posted on social networks, the origin of which could not be verified, what appeared to be fans of the Maccabi club sang songs in Hebrew hostile to the Palestinians.
