Violence in football: Amsterdam is desperately looking for peace!

Violence in football: Amsterdam is desperately looking for peace!

Amsterdam, the city of diversity, is again shaken! After the violent clashes between fans of the Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Dutch team Ajax on November 8th, the anger in the city is gripping. Tori Eatherman, a Jewish writer who has been living in Amsterdam for 20 years, can hardly rewink her anger. "They come, act in the most violent and racist manner and let us tidy up the pile of shards," Egerman is outraged by the Maccabi fans, who chanted racist slogans and Palestinian flags during the game. The situation escalated after Ajax's 5-0 victory, as a Maccabi supporter of groups on motorcycles and on foot. Five people ended up in the hospital while the police made numerous arrests.

A dangerous game of the blame! The reactions to violence are divided. Egerman sees a provocation in the incidents that have both anti -Semitic and racist motifs. "The violence was not only anti -Semitic, but was also provoked," she explains. At the same time, the local activist Sobhi Khatib warns that such incidents in the current political landscape of the Netherlands, especially after the right -wing extremist PVV, were expected. "Violence is an escalation of institutionalized violence that was normalized in Dutch society," says Khatib. The city administration has now issued an emergency decree that prohibits protests, which leads to further tensions.

The wounds of the past break on

The arguments not only affected the Jewish and Palestinian community, but also the great Muslim minority in the Netherlands, which often has to serve as a scapegoat. "We feel like second-class citizens," complains 22-year-old Oumaima Al Abdellaoui, who advertises cohesion in her community. "Violence is a result of marginalization and racist politics," she adds. While the protests continue against the Israeli offensive in Gaza, the fear of further arguments remains in the city.

The Dutch government is under pressure, while the tensions between different communities increase. Prime Minister Dick Schoof described the riots as "unadulterated anti -Semitic violence" and emphasizes the need to ensure the security of all citizens. But the question remains: How can peace be made in a city that is shaped by such deep wounds?