The Amsterdam mayor, police, and public prosecutor have decided to ban an announced Palestine-support rally during the Ajax vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv match at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Thursday. Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema feared clashes between the protesters and the supporters of the Israeli football club. Ajax’s hard-core supporters, the F-side, also said that they “wanted to intervene” in the demonstration.
“Violent confrontations are a realistic prospect,” Halsema told Amsterdam broadcaster AT5. The city could find no way to facilitate the demonstration at the stadium safely. She offered the demonstrators, united under Week 4 Palestine, an alternative location for their protest on Anton de Koplein, a few hundred meters from the stadium.
The demonstrators seem to respect the city’s decision, saying on Instagram that they canceled the demonstration at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. “We have no other choice. The municipality of Amsterdam has stated that it is unable to facilitate the demonstration.” The group also posted an image showing that the demonstration will take place at the alternative location from 7:00 p.m.
The city designated the stadium and various other areas as security risk areas around the match, enabling the police to take preventive action like stop-and-search.
Belgium
