Give Amsterdam back its voice

English text below

DWARS GroenLinkse Youth Noord-Holland - Flevoland strongly disapproves of the recent actions of the Amsterdam municipality. In recent days, we have watched in horror as Israeli hooligans have terrorised the city undisturbed, while the police have barely intervened. Also disturbing is the lack of media coverage of this violence, including the assault on a taxi driver.

On the night of 7-8 November, hooligans armed with metal rods and wooden planks were able to roam the city unhindered. Not surprisingly, this evoked violent reactions among Amsterdam residents. Despite this, the actions of the Israeli hooligans, who attacked taxi drivers, vandalised Palestinian flags, smashed windows, and threatened people suspected of supporting the Palestinians, received scant attention in the media and among police, mayors and politicians. On top of this, we fully condemn the indiscriminate violence that followed against Maccabi fans. Some of this violence was anti-Semitic in nature, which of course we also strongly condemn

In addition, it is incomprehensible that Maccabi's ‘supporters’ were allowed in at all. Indeed, Maccabi supporters are not known for watching a football match in a friendly manner, which was confirmed by ignoring the minute's silence for the Valencia flood victims. This in addition to the fact that a genocide is currently being committed by Israel against Palestinians makes this decision incomprehensible.

The introduction of a city-wide emergency ordinance, including a blanket ban on demonstrations, is a gross violation of the right to demonstrate and unacceptable to us, DWARS GroenLinkse Youth North Holland - Flevoland. We call on Mayor Halsema to reverse this decision and allow demonstrations again, as it should be in a democracy.

The police action on 10 November was also unacceptable. Excessive violence and intimidation was used: people who had nothing to do with the demonstration were detained and mistreated. After the demonstration ended, small groups were surrounded without demonstrating or in any way showing their support for Palestine. This behaviour by the police is nothing short of pure intimidation.

In addition, let one thing be clear. We are against all forms of violence and racism towards any population group. We will always fight against all forms of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and all other forms of racism. However bad we find the current situation, it should not distract from the real violence, which is the genocide of the Palestinians.

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DWARS, GroenLinkse Jongeren Noord-Holland - Flevoland, strongly condemns the recent actions of the Amsterdam municipality. Over the past few days, we have watched in horror as Israeli hooligans terrorised the city unimpeded, with police scarcely intervening. Equally disturbing is the lack of media attention on this violence, including the assault on a taxi driver.

On the night of November 7 to 8, hooligans armed with metal rods and wooden planks were able to move freely through the city. It's unsurprising that this sparked intense reactions among Amsterdammers. Nevertheless, there was almost no attention from the media, police, mayor, or politicians regarding the actions of the Israeli hooligans, who attacked taxi drivers, destroyed Palestinian flags, smashed windows, and threatened individuals suspected of supporting Palestinians. We also unequivocally condemn the random violence that subsequently targeted Maccabi fans. Some of this violence was anti-Semitic in nature, which we, of course, strongly condemn as well.

Additionally, it is incomprehensible that the ‘supporters’ of Maccabi were even allowed entry. Maccabi supporters are not known for peacefully attending football matches, which was confirmed by their ignoring of the moment of silence for flood victims in Valencia. Combined with the fact that Israel is currently committing genocide against the Palestinians, this decision is incomprehensible.

The imposition of an emergency order across the entire city, including a total ban on demonstrations, is a gross violation of the right to protest and is unacceptable for us, DWARS , GroenLinkse Youth North Holland - Flevoland. We call on Mayor Halsema to reverse this decision and to allow demonstrations again, as should be the case in a democracy.

The police actions on November 10 were also unacceptable. Excessive force and intimidation were used: people who had nothing to do with the demonstration were surrounded and mistreated. After the demonstration, small groups were encircled even though they were neither protesting nor showing any support for Palestine in any way. This behaviour by the police amounts to pure intimidation.

Let one thing be clear. We oppose all forms of violence and racism toward any population group. We will always stand against all forms of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and every other form of racism. However deeply we feel about the current situation, it must not distract from the real violence, namely the genocide against the Palestinians.