News item | 07-03-2025 | 17:00
The Council of Ministers has agreed to the establishment of the Task Force of Anti -Semitism. The Task Force started on 1 February 2025 and, after publication of the institution and appointment decision in the Government Gazette, will be set retroactively for the duration of one year. On December 13, 2024, Jaap Smit, former commissioner of the King of South Holland, was announced as the intended chairman of the Task Force.
In addition to him, the following members were appointed by the Minister of Justice and Security:
- Tineke Cleiren, Emeritus Professor of Criminal and Criminal Procedure Law at the Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology
- René Glaser, strategic advisor at Glaser Public Affairs
- Ton Heerts, mayor of Apeldoorn, Association of Dutch Municipalities
- Chanan Hertzberger, chairman of the Central Jewish Consultation
- Wouter Koolmees, President-Director NS
- Rianne Letschert, Chairman of the Board of the University of Maastricht, universities of the Netherlands
- Wilbert Paulissen, deputy police chief of Police Netherlands
- Mirjam van Praag, professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership at VU University Amsterdam (VU), chairman of the Advisory Board for Science, Technology and Innovation (AWTI)
- Eddo Verdoner, National Coordinator of Anti -Semitism (NCAB)
In the coming year, the Task Force will start making targeted proposals to promote the safety of Jews, in particular the safety of Jewish students at universities, the exclusion of anti-Semitic speakers at colleges and universities and safety consequences of the SIT-ins at OV stations.
Minister Van Weel: ‘I am pleased that these people all want to commit themselves to the important work of this task force. Anti -Semitism is the order of the day and it is crucial that we do everything we can to improve and guarantee the safety of our Jewish community. It is important that Jewish students and Jewish employees in education know themselves safely and that there are clear agreements about demonstrations and public order on public transport stations where there is an eye for Jewish travelers. I am confident that with this Task Force a group of important representatives will come together who can take concrete steps together. ‘
With the members appointed today, the Task Force consists of the National Coordinator for the fight against Antisemitism (NCAB), representation of the local government, the education sector, the cultural sector, the public transport sector, the police, representatives of the Jewish community and other social parties. They all start working on the measures from their own responsibility.