The number of reports of anti-Semitism has doubled nationally. This is evident from figures at the regional reporting points of Discrimination.nl. Many incidents happen in Amsterdam, says Eddo Verdoner, National Coordinator for Combating Anti-Semitism (NCAB). He therefore sounds the alarm.
In 2023, 156 reports were received by the reporting points. The year before it was 69. “Then it is time for us to respond with society,” says Verdoner. Together with the NCAB, he provides advice on combating anti-Semitism to the Ministry of Justice.
‘Size and intensity unprecedented’
The biggest increase in reports occurred after October 7, when Hamas launched a full-scale attack on Israel, which ended in a massive massacre on the Israeli side. Israel responded with bombings, among other things, also with disastrous consequences. “You see that as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict flares up, there is also an increase in the number of reports of anti-Semitism.” The coordinator had already expected that it would increase this year. “But the size and intensity of it is unprecedented.”
240214_antisemitism_nh – NH News
Verdoner says that about 40 thousand Jews live in the Netherlands, of which about 20 thousand in Amsterdam. “Many incidents of which we have received a signal take place in Amsterdam. For example, we organized a session for parents whose children were experiencing problems.”
What emerges from that session turns out to be shocking. Verdoner sees parents in tears. “One of those children was told by boys in an app group: what your people are doing is terrible, we are going to catch you and the next time you come to school, something will happen to you. Photos of weapons were sent. That nine-year-old boy years old has stopped going to school.”
“The management told parents that it would be better if they looked for another school for their child”
A second example is of two children at the same school who are also bullied. “The management had said to both parents: ‘It is better if you look for another school’. I thought that was really a sign of the future.”
The events of October 7 have reinforced a feeling among Jewish Amsterdammers that has existed for some time, says Verdoner. “All kinds of safety measures are already needed around very normal things, such as a primary or secondary school. That already has a lot of impact if you have to pass those measures every day.” Verdoner means, for example, the Royal Military Police, the fences and camera surveillance around Jewish schools. “You know that someone is targeting you.”
All the measures and trends that were already visible before the conflict in the Middle East was in the news again, together with the increasing number of reports, now has the Jewish community wondering something. “They think: where is it going?”, says Verdoner. “And they want there to be a strong statement.”
“A trip to a memorial site helps to pull children away from online disinformation”
According to the NCAB, not only statements from politics are important. Something concrete also needs to be done. According to the NCAB, this must be done in three different aspects. Criminal law, educational and in the field of commemorating and celebrating Jewish life.
Criminal prosecution
According to Verdoner, some laws are lagging behind. “We notice that our criminal justice system is still very focused on what happens in physical space. If someone hangs up a poster with an anti-Semitic text, someone is prosecuted for it. But on the internet there are suddenly millions of posters. A conviction for this happens. much too little.”
Education
A second point is education. “Verdoner is working with the municipality of Amsterdam to create a support center for Amsterdam teachers. Here they could, for example, get new teaching materials, guest speakers and help with organizing trips to places of memory.
“A lot of anti-Semitism comes from conspiracy theories. Some conspiracies are about the Holocaust, that it is fake. A trip to a memorial site helps to pull children out of the online disinformation and show them: this is where it happened. In Amsterdam, at the corner near your school.” The support center should be launched later this year.
Commemorate and celebrate
A third point of attention is continuing to commemorate the Holocaust and celebrating Jewish life. “Unknown is unloved. The chance that you will meet someone who is Jewish is small, because there are still few Jews. That increases the chance of discrimination, because you do not know people. Getting to know Jewish life is a working antidote against anti-Semitism. That This can be done in all kinds of ways, such as through festivals, through city officials going to Jewish holidays, through attention in local media. This makes it normal to be Jewish and that increases acceptance and reduces anti-Semitism.”