Israeli supporters victims of violent attacks in Amsterdam: “We have every reason to fear contagion here in Belgium, and not necessarily during a football match”
Israeli fans were violently attacked after a soccer match in Amsterdam, sparking serious concerns among European Jewish communities about a rise in Islamist violence. Yves Oschinsky, president of the CCOJB, calls for increased vigilance and denounces the intrusion of politics into sport.
Journalist in the General Editorial Office
Published on 08/11/2024 at 11:51
These are images of rare violence which quickly went around the web this Thursday evening. After the match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Amsterdam, Israeli fans were targeted by anti-Israeli rioters. According to the daily The Times of Israëlten people (five according to the Dutch police at the time of writing, Editor’s note) have been hospitalized and three no longer have contact with their families. “Hundreds of other people fear being attacked again when they try to reach their return flight,” the Israeli media said.
Following this attack, the level of the threat was raised by Jewish community security, tells us Yves Oschinsky, president of the Coordination Committee of Jewish Organizations in Belgium (CCOJB).
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“I am talking about security specific to Jewish institutions,” he specifies. “The threat level is taken very seriously. These are recommendations for extreme vigilance and protection. »
“It was just a pretext”
If the events took place in Amsterdam and Belgium will not host the match against Israel on November 17 on its territory, the concerns are real. “We have every reason to fear contagion here in Belgium, and not necessarily during a football match. It was just an excuse. They noted the presence of Israeli supporters. And we’re not just talking about bullying. There were stabbing attacks, car rammings, there was talk of several missing people. Contact has been re-established with some but I hope there was no actual kidnapping. This is extremely serious. We are no longer safe! We can fear that this Islamist violence will be expressed without pretext. »
Contact has been re-established with some missing people but I hope there was no actual kidnapping
Yves Oschinsky says he is worried. “We are really seeing a move into action. We wanted to attack Jews, because they are Jews. And what is particularly cynical is that at the same time there was taking place, in a synagogue in Amsterdam, a commemoration of the sinister Kristallnacht which took place from November 9 to 10, 1938. A night during which there was a real hunt for Jews. On the day of this commemoration, the same acts are symbolically reproduced. It is a pogrom reminiscent of the pogroms we experienced in Germany. »
A European contagion
The president denounces a Europeanization of “this Islamist violence”. And what happened this Thursday evening in Amsterdam makes “all Jewish communities in Europe” fear contagion.
Israeli-Palestinian conflict: 70% of victims are women and children, according to the UN
Yves Oschinsky also discusses the sporting context which preceded the attacks. “Politics has no right of entry into sport and football. The matches organized by UEFA represent universal brotherhood. We are the opposite of that here. We are taking a further step in the violence of certain Islamists. »
The Israel-Belgium match on November 17 will take place in Hungary
The organization of the future match against Belgium in Hungary is not likely to reassure him. “When the relocation was announced, the Jewish community was shocked. If everything related to Israel is banned, that is a terrible signal. This means that we are in a State which does not fulfill its obligation to protect its citizens. We cannot resolve a possible difficulty by removing it. »
An appeal to the political world
He also appeals to the political world. “I hope that the next government will pay particular attention to ensuring that Belgian society finds more serenity. » The elections have, according to him, plunged the country into polarization and communitarianism. “The next majority will have to ensure that communities can live peacefully and that Belgian citizens, whatever their faith, feel safe. »
The Jewish community is not the only one to react to Thursday evening’s attacks. On X, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, strongly condemned “these unacceptable acts”. “Anti-Semitism has absolutely no place in Europe. And we are determined to fight all forms of hatred,” she wrote on the social network.
Planes sent by Israel to Amsterdam to repatriate Israelis
This Friday morning, Israel sent a first plane intended to repatriate Israeli citizens from Amsterdam. Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev asked her Dutch counterpart, Barry Madlener, to ensure “safe transportation of passengers from hotels to the airport.” She also demanded that Schipol Airport in Amsterdam remain open at night this weekend and that “all necessary permits” be granted to Israeli evacuation planes.
The head of Israeli diplomacy also planned to go there “for an urgent diplomatic visit”.
