[News] The manufactured 'pogrom': Weaponizing chaos in Amsterdam

[Anti-Imperialist News]

 The manufactured 'pogrom': Weaponizing chaos in Amsterdam

The western world and mainstream media have once again jumped on an
opportunity to conflate anti-Zionism with antisemitism after Israeli
football hooligans, protected by the Mossad, wreaked havoc on the streets
of Amsterdam, deliberately provoking a harsh response.

Anis Raiss <https://thecradle.co/authors/anis-raiss-122>

NOV 10, 2024 -
https://thecradle.co/articles/the-manufactured-pogrom-weaponizing-chaos-in-amsterdam
Photo Credit: The Cradle

For the first time in living memory, mainstream media has risen to defend
football hooliganism. On 6 November, Tel Aviv’s traveling thugs arrived in
Amsterdam, beginning their rampage by tearing down Palestinian solidarity
flags, chanting racist slurs like “Let the IDF win to f** the Arabs
<https://x.com/halalflow/status/1854805165406040475>,” and attacking taxi
drivers.

By the night of 7 November, as their team faced Ajax, their provocations
escalated into a full-blown spectacle of chaos, spilling into the city both
before and after the match. Yet, in an extraordinary twist, the
provocateurs who left a trail of havoc were transformed into victims.
Imagine a rowdy guest smashing bottles at the bar, getting shoved out the
door, and then calling the police to report being assaulted. That’s the
level of irony we’re witnessing here — a tale as inflated as it is easily
debunked.

The mainstream narrative, amplified by Israeli outlets, would have you
believe Amsterdam had hosted a premeditated attack on Jews — a “pogrom” so
harrowing that emergency evacuation flights were required to whisk the
supposed targets to safety.

Dutch right-wing politicians and media wasted no time in seizing the
moment, re-framing the incident to suit their agendas.

This investigation will unravel how the night’s events were weaponized —
not only to conflate anti-Zionism with antisemitism, but to stoke fears of
Islamic communities in Europe.

Beneath the headlines lies a more complex story: hooligan provocation,
citizen frustration, and the calculated exploitation of crisis for
political gain.

The timeline goes as follows:

*6 November: The arrival of chaos*

The chaos in Amsterdam began on 6 November, with the surreal sight of a
state dispatching its premier intelligence agency to act as bodyguards for
a fanbase notorious for racist chants and violent behavior. Mossad agents
<https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-827683>, ostensibly sent
to ensure “security,” arrived alongside the first wave of Tel Aviv’s
traveling hooligans.

Far from embodying the spirit of sportsmanship, these provocateurs wasted
no time stirring tensions, tearing down Palestinian solidarity banners
<https://x.com/its_maria012/status/1854741497641681415>, and setting the
stage for the disorder that would engulf the city in the days to come.

Provocations begin: Palestinian solidarity banners, displayed by local
residents in support of Gaza, became their first targets. These banners
were torn down with an air of impunity, an act of symbolic violence that
set the stage for further unrest.

Clashes with taxi drivers: The provocations didn’t stop there. Clashes
erupted with local taxi drivers after one hooligan reportedly destroyed a
cab, leading to physical altercations. These incidents, now confirmed
<https://x.com/Arnold_August/status/1855065640186318999> by Amsterdam
Police, hinted at the unrest to come but received little attention from
authorities, who appeared unprepared to manage the growing tension.

Hooligans take refuge in Holland Casino: The cab drivers' pursuit forced
the hooligans into retreat. Desperate and outmatched, the same provocateurs
who had flaunted their arrogance earlier now gambled for their safety, seeking
refuge in the Holland Casino
<https://x.com/leylahamed/status/1854496112364667272>. Cornered and with no
cards left to play, they dialed the police for assistance — a stunning
reversal for a group that had spent the evening rolling the dice on chaos
and provocation.

*7 November: Match day chaos*

Hateful Chants and disrespect for remembrance: Hours before the Europa
League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, the streets of Amsterdam
were filled with the hateful echoes of the hooligans’ chants. Phrases like
“Death to Arabs” and “There are no schools in Gaza because there are no
children left” pierced the air, turning the city into a stage for their
aggressive rhetoric.

Inside the stadium, during a one-minute silence to honor victims of a
recent flood in Valencia, they disrupted the moment
<https://x.com/autostart24/status/1855005369480687753> with loud hollering
and shouting, mocking the solemnity of the occasion and further enraging
locals.

Post-Match vigilantism: After the game, simmering tensions erupted into
confrontations as local citizens, frustrated by both the hooligans’
provocations and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, took matters into their own
hands.

Near Central Station, Tel Aviv hooligans were seen in large groups, pulling
metal poles from the ground to use as weapons while moving toward the city
center—a hub for cab drivers, many of whom are of Moroccan descent. Groups
of Amsterdam residents began hunting down the Tel Aviv hooligans,
delivering harsh beatings to some and publicly confronting others.

Videos circulating on social media captured these acts of vigilantism,
including one where a hooligan was thrown into an Amsterdam canal and
forced to chant “Free Palestine.” In another, locals were seen shouting at
the beaten hooligans, condemning them with comments referencing the
atrocities in Gaza, such as, “You attack women and children, but now you
face us.”

The situation begged the question: How could an Israeli team like Maccabi
Tel Aviv, with its fanbase notorious for racism and violence, be allowed to
compete in UEFA tournaments, especially while Israel stands accused by the
ICC of complicity in genocide?  This stark contrast becomes even more
glaring when compared to the treatment of Russian teams, which have been
banned from international competitions and even excluded from the Olympics
due to geopolitical conflicts. Yet, Israel’s ongoing occupation and alleged
war crimes seemingly do not warrant the same level of accountability,
exposing a glaring double standard in the realm of global sports governance.

*8 November: Manufacturing a pogrom*

Mainstream Dutch media, amplified by Israeli and Western outlets, rapidly
reframed the events as a “pogrom” targeting  Jews, erasing the context of
hooligan provocations that had sparked the clashes. Reports sensationalized
the violence, describing it as premeditated antisemitic attacks. In an
almost farcical twist, some claimed emergency evacuation flights were
arranged to rescue the supposed victims, conjuring images of 19th-century
Russia with mass murders and burning villages.

The exaggerated narrative conveniently shifted the focus from the
hooligans’ provocations to a carefully constructed portrayal of victimhood.

Political opportunism: Dutch right-wing politicians wasted no time
amplifying the narrative, with Geert Wilders leading the charge like a
conductor orchestrating a symphony of outrage, his notes echoing through
media channels.

After his call with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Wilders condemned the
events as shameful antisemitism and vowed to protect Dutch Jews. At his
side, Dilan Yesilgöz, like a dutiful first violinist, harmonized his
message, amplifying the framing of a nation under siege by intolerance.
Even King Willem-Alexander joined the chorus, expressing his and Queen
Máxima’s shock at the “violence against Israeli guests” and warning against
the dangers of ignoring antisemitism, invoking historical parallels to past
atrocities.

Together, their voices turned a night of chaos into a carefully crafted
crescendo of victimhood, obscuring the provocations that had sparked the
backlash.

By the end of November 8, the story was no longer about hooligan aggression
but had been rewritten to serve political and media agendas, shifting
attention from the truth to a spectacle of moral outrage.

*Conflating Anti-Zionism with Antisemitism: The role of Dutch politicians
and lobby groups*

The Amsterdam incidents became fertile ground for Dutch politicians and
media to conflate anti-Zionism with antisemitism, reframing legitimate
outrage over Israeli policies into a broader narrative of victimhood and
fear-mongering.

At the forefront of this narrative were two prominent figures: Geert
Wilders, leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) and a vocal
advocate for Israeli ultranationalist interests, and Dilan Yeşilgöz, the
newly anointed face of the Dutch liberal party VVD and a key figure in the
current coalition government.

Wilders, known for his polarizing rhetoric and staunch pro-Israel stance,
has long positioned himself as a defender of "Western values" against what
he portrays as the dual threats of Islam and criticism of Israel.

*Dilan Yeşilgöz: The groomed voice of Hasbara*

Once the Minister of Justice, Yeşilgöz
<https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerleden_en_commissies/alle_kamerleden/yesilg%20oz-zegerius-d-vvd>
is
now a prominent figure in the Dutch government, having run for prime
minister as the VVD leader. Her rise to prominence has been accompanied by
her unflinching alignment with Israeli narratives, a relationship
solidified during a 2019 CIDI-sponsored “study trip” to Israel and the
occupied Palestinian territories.

Critics have labeled such trips as "grooming missions," designed to provide
politicians with a one-sided view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
effectively embedding pro-Israel bias into their policymaking.

The controversy surrounding Yeşilgöz's trip deepened when it was revealed
that portions of her travel costs were covered by restitution funds meant
for the Dutch Jewish community — funds intended to compensate for losses
during the Holocaust.

Her participation in the trip and subsequent actions, such as labeling
consumer boycotts of Israeli settlement products as antisemitic, underscore
how she has become a key player in advancing the agenda of CIDI, often
described as the Dutch counterpart to AIPAC <https://www.aipac.org/policy>.

*Geert Wilders: Israel's loyal advocate*

Geert Wilders
<https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2016-12-05/ty-%20article/report-dutch-secret-service-investigated-far-right-leaders-ties-to-%20israel/0000017f-f7c1-d318-afff-f7e327f90000>,
leader of the Dutch far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), has long-standing
ties to Israel, having visited the country over 40 times. His connections
include relationships with prominent Israeli figures such as Amos Gilad and
Zeev Boker.

Amos Gilad is a retired Major General in the Israel Defense Forces and has
served as the director of policy and political-military affairs at the
Israeli Ministry of Defense. Zeev Boker is a seasoned Israeli diplomat who
has held positions including ambassador to Ireland and Slovakia. These
associations underscore Wilders' alignment with Israeli ultranationalist
politics.

Wilders' rhetoric often mirrors far-right Israeli talking points, notably
his assertion that "Jordan is the only Palestinian state."  He consistently
conflates anti-Zionist criticism with antisemitism. Following the Amsterdam
incidents, Wilders amplified the "pogrom" narrative and made a symbolic
appearance at Schiphol Airport to meet with Israeli officials, reinforcing
his unwavering allegiance.

This act, while largely performative, highlighted the deep intertwining of
Wilders' political brand with Israeli interests, raising questions about
the influence of foreign powers on domestic politics.

Adding to his connections, Wilders spent time living on a kibbutz in Israel
during his youth, further cementing his personal and ideological ties to
the country. In response to Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema's condemnation of
the violence against Israelis — where she stated, "That this happened in
Amsterdam is unbearable and unacceptable" — Wilders called for her
 resignation
<https://nos.nl/artikel/2543672-politiek-veroordeelt-geweld-tegen-maccabi-fans-in-%20amsterdam-koning-is-geschokt>,
accusing her of failing to maintain public order.

*De Telegraaf: The amplifier of Zionist narratives*

A crucial player in spreading this narrative was De Telegraaf, the largest
newspaper in the Netherlands and a stalwart of tabloid-style journalism.

Often compared to fast food for its sensationalism and lack of depth, De
Telegraaf has a legacy <https://www.eurotopics.net/en/148491/de-telegraaf>
that continues to haunt it. During World War II, it was the only major
Dutch newspaper to remain operational under Nazi oversight, eventually
serving as a mouthpiece for SS propaganda.

Although heavily sanctioned after the war, the stain of its wartime
collaboration has earned it the enduring moniker of a foute krant (wrong
newspaper).

True to form, De Telegraaf threw itself behind the far-right narrative
surrounding the Amsterdam incidents.

Its pages framed the events as a premeditated antisemitic attack while
deftly sidestepping the provocations of Tel Aviv’s hooligans. The paper’s
editorial line seemed tailor-made to echo the agenda of CIDI
<https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/article/how-dutch-israel-lobby-%20attacks-free-speech/>,
the pro-Israel lobbying group in the Netherlands, which has long blurred
the lines between criticism of Israeli policy and outright antisemitism.

But the real spectacle lies in De Telegraaf’s editorial arsenal — a coterie
of columnists and writers who labor tirelessly to push back the genie that
alternative media has unleashed. This genie — the unsanitized truths of the
occupation of Palestine, the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and the
international outcry over Israeli policies — is what De Telegraaf seeks to
shove back into the bottle with every op-ed and headline.

*Maccabi Tel Aviv: A club steeped in racism and aggression*

The events in Amsterdam were not an isolated display of hooliganism but
part of a larger pattern tied to the culture surrounding Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Known for its aggressive and racist fan base
<https://www.nif.org/stories/shared-society-combating-%20racism/reporting-on-racism-in-soccer/>,
the club has long been associated with some of the worst examples
<https://www.timesofisrael.com/three-%20soccer-fans-arrested-for-racist-jeering/>
of bigotry in Israeli football.

The New Israel Fund’s initiative, “Let’s Kick Racism and Violence Out of
Israeli Soccer,” reported that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were responsible for
65 incidents of racist chanting during the 2022-2023 season alone.

These included slurs such as “monkey” directed at Black players and “death
to Arabs,” chants that have become disturbingly normalized in the club’s
culture. Despite laws intended to curb such behavior, enforcement has been
weak, leaving this toxic environment to flourish.

This hostility is not limited to opposing teams. In a well-documented
incident in August 2014, Maccabi supporters turned on their own
Arab-Israeli midfielder, Maharan Radi, verbally assaulting him during
training sessions and matches. Fans even stormed the pitch to hurl slurs at
Radi, an act that led to arrests but highlighted the entrenched racism
within the club’s ranks.

While authorities pledged zero tolerance for such behavior, it remains a
defining characteristic of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s fan base — a reflection of
deeper societal fractures.

As the dust settles, Geert Wilders demands a parliamentary debate, pressing
the question: will Mayor Femke Halsema resign under mounting pressure?

Meanwhile, tributes pour in
<https://x.com/skoonzoon/status/1854755163417747893> for the locals and cab
drivers who stood their ground, defending the city against the hooliganism
protected by Mossad agents and standing firm against Israeli provocations.

Beyond Amsterdam, Israel has eagerly embraced this event as an opportunity
to bind a divided nation. By framing the Amsterdam incidents as part of a
global wave of antisemitism, Israel amplifies its siege mentality, rallying
citizens under the banner of existential threat while deflecting attention
from the atrocities in Gaza.
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