News item | 13-12-2024 | 16:26
Former King’s Commissioner of South Holland, Jaap Smit will be the chairman of the Taskforce mentioned in the Combating Anti-Semitism Strategy 2024-2030. Jaap Smit started his career as a preacher and spiritual counselor at the defense department, switched to consultancy where he worked on responsible entrepreneurship and subsequently became director of Victim Support Netherlands. Between 2010 and 2014 he was chairman of the CNV trade union, before taking office as King’s Commissioner in South Holland in January 2014.
Minister of Justice and Security, David van Weel, expressed his appreciation for the willingness of Mr. Smit to take on this important task:
“I am extremely grateful that Jaap Smit has agreed to serve as chairman of this Taskforce. His proven leadership and broad experience make him the right person for this crucial role. Anti-Semitism remains a deep-rooted problem that we must tackle with urgency and determination. The safety of Our Jewish community, especially our youth, is at stake. This requires focused action and strong cooperation, and I am confident that the Task Force will take meaningful steps under his leadership.”
In the coming year, the Task Force will work on making targeted proposals to promote the safety of Jews, in particular the safety of Jewish students at universities, the banning of anti-Semitic speakers at colleges and universities and the security consequences of the sit-ins at the NS stations.
The government considers it important that the Taskforce consists of representatives of the relevant ministries, the National Coordinator for Combating Anti-Semitism (NCAB), mayors, the education sector, the sports sector, the culture sector, the public transport sector, representatives of the Jewish community and other social parties. The Taskforce will be established for a period of one year and the secretariat will be embedded within the NCAB.