Fri Nov 08 22:44:03 UTC 2024: ## Anti-Semitic Clashes Erupt in Amsterdam After Football Match, Israeli Rescue Planes Deployed
**Amsterdam, Netherlands** – Israeli and Dutch leaders condemned violent anti-Semitic clashes that occurred in Amsterdam following a Europa League football match between Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam on Thursday night.
The violence erupted after the match, which saw Ajax win 5-0. Dutch police arrested 57 individuals involved in the clashes, which included vandalism and numerous fights in the city center.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof denounced the attacks as “completely unacceptable” and stated he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assure him that the perpetrators would be tracked down and prosecuted.
Netanyahu, in turn, ordered rescue planes to the Netherlands to transport Israeli fans back home, viewing the attack as “premeditated” and requesting increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.
The Israeli Embassy in the United States reported that hundreds of Maccabi fans were ambushed and attacked as they left the stadium, blaming the incident on a mob targeting innocent Israelis.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called on the Dutch government to protect, locate, and rescue all Israelis and Jews under attack, describing the situation as a “pogrom.”
The violence occurred amidst heightened anti-Israeli sentiment and anti-Semitic acts globally, coinciding with Israel’s ongoing wars against Iran-backed militants in Lebanon and Gaza.
Amsterdam authorities had been on high alert following several incidents, including the tearing down of a Palestinian flag from a building, and had relocated a planned pro-Palestinian demonstration for security reasons.
The Israeli government urged its citizens in Amsterdam to stay in their hotels and avoid displaying Israeli or Jewish symbols if they ventured outside. The army is coordinating a rescue mission with cargo aircraft and medical teams.
First Piper 