In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders, leader of the PVV (Party for Freedom) and figure of the extreme right, provoked strong reactions during a parliamentary debate by accusing the Dutch of Moroccan origin and the Muslim community, responsibility for the violent clashes around the match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel-Aviv. His comments, which directly target this population, revive controversies on immigration, violence and integration, in an already tense political climate.
The Dutch political scene, already shaken by tensions around immigration and security, took a new turn this week. During a parliamentary debate, the leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), Geert Wilders, took advantage of the violent incidents surrounding the Ajax-Maccabi Tel-Aviv football match to challenge elected officials and public opinion . Wilders, who has become a central figure in the Dutch far right, did not hesitate to point to Dutch people of Moroccan origin as responsible for what he describes as “hunt for Jews” in the streets of Amsterdam.
An accusatory and controversial speech
In his speech, Geert Wilders targeted “Muslims, mainly of Moroccan origin”whom he accuses of being at the origin of the violence observed. Describing the events as “pogrom of the worst kind”he claimed that “Jews were beaten, stabbed, thrown into water and punched in the face”. Wilders also denounced the anti-Semitism he attributes to the communities he cites, a recurring theme in his public interventions, and proposed that anti-Semitism become legal grounds for revoking Dutch citizenship.
Wilders’ comments, widely broadcast and commented on, were relayed by the Dutch broadcaster NOS, which specified that the latter reiterated his position in the face of criticism. When another parliamentarian, of a more progressive tendency, mentioned the provocations of certain Israeli supporters who allegedly chanted anti-Arab slogans, Wilders retorted that these remarks could not be compared to the “hunt for Jews” which he claims to observe, insisting on the unique and unacceptable character of anti-Semitism in this context.
The call for radical sanctions
Beyond the accusatory rhetoric, Wilders pleaded for radical measures targeting dual nationals. He urged the government to bring the accused to justice for acts described as “terrorism”and to consider the revocation of nationality for those with dual nationality, particularly targeting Moroccans. Wilders’ proposal raises legal and ethical questions, particularly concerning the right to nationality and the stigmatization of a part of the population on ethnic and religious grounds.
A controversial report from the mayor of Amsterdam
The debate was also fueled by a report from Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema. In this document, she describes the violence around the Ajax-Maccabi match as a “toxic cocktail of anti-Semitism, hooliganism, and political tensions linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”. Halsema, while acknowledging the provocations suffered by pro-Palestinian communities, insisted that nothing can justify a call for violence or “hunt for Jews”.
His report, presented at a meeting of the municipal council, also mentions the involvement of ten Israeli residents in the clashes, and underlines the complexity of a situation where international tensions translate locally into violent acts. According to police reports, some Israeli supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv, masked and acting violently, attacked pro-Palestinian demonstrators, even targeting a taxi.
An escalation of violence that worries the authorities
Following the incidents, local authorities took restrictive measures to prevent the situation from degenerating further. A ban on demonstrations was decreed in Amsterdam to prevent any resumption of violence. However, despite this ban, clashes broke out in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, where demonstrators caused significant damage by burning trams, throwing fireworks, and vandalizing vehicles.
In response, the Dutch government found itself faced with rising tensions, not only at the community and political levels, but also at the international level.
