Mick Hartley

From the Jerusalem Post:

In the heart of Amsterdam’s Dam Square on May 15, 2022, an ominous scene unfolded. It was Nakba Day (marking the displacement of Palestinians during Israel’s 1948 War of Independence), and the square was filled with Palestinian flags, anti-Israel banners, and chants.

At the center of this protest stood Thomas Hofland, head of the pro-Hamas Samidoun organization in the Netherlands, alongside Amin Abu-Rashid, a known Hamas operative. As speakers from the stage lauded Hamas as a “legitimate resistance movement” and even justified violence against Israelis, the Jewish community in the Netherlands took note.

This rally wasn’t a one-time incident but an alarming sign of how deeply anti-Israel sentiment has infiltrated Dutch society, from fringe activism into mainstream public spaces, social media, and even legal channels.

Today, following fresh reports of violent attacks on Israeli fans in Amsterdam, The Jerusalem Post reveals an exclusive and highly classified report from Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism, written in May 2024.

The document, obtained by The Jerusalem Post, paints a disturbing picture of rising anti-Israel sentiment and antisemitism in the Netherlands. This anti-Israel agenda, as detailed in the report, spans public rallies, legal and financial networks, social media influence, and even instances of incitement.

It captures an increasingly hostile environment where anti-Israel sentiment isn’t just tolerated but, at times, is celebrated and encouraged.

The May 2022 Nakba Day protest in Dam Square was emblematic of this shift. What was once considered radical rhetoric has become normalized, not just in isolated protests but through widespread activism that permeates Dutch society….

The report outlines the scale of this shift, describing a coordinated campaign led by key figures who have embedded anti-Israel rhetoric into Dutch social and public discourse.

At the center of this movement is Amin Abu-Rashid, a well-known Hamas operative whose influence stretches into prominent Dutch circles. In May 2022, Dutch authorities raided Abu-Rashid’s home, uncovering €150,000 in cash and Hamas-related materials, a stark reminder of his financial role in pro-Hamas activities.

Hamas and its Muslim sympathisers, then – plus hard-left activists.

In May 2023, social activist Carolien Nieuweboer launched a campaign to raise €100,000 to fill public spaces with pro-Palestinian billboards across the Netherlands. These billboards display symbols reminiscent of the Palestinian flag, normalizing anti-Israel sentiment in daily public life.

By the report’s release, she had raised €83,000, illustrating strong support for these anti-Israel initiatives. Equally influential in fueling this sentiment is Rachid El Ghazaoui, known as "Rapper Appa." His social media posts are well-known for their inflammatory nature. In March 2023, he called for “military intervention” and compared Israel to Nazi Germany, suggesting that dismantling the state was the only solution. Appa’s rhetoric reflects a broader trend where social media is weaponized to amplify anti-Israel sentiment, often masked under the guise of activism or freedom of speech.

The question, as Jonathan Sacerdoti wondered: is it any better here in the UK?