Israel Friday sent two planes to bring back Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club fans from Amsterdam after they faced "antisemitic attacks," reportedly sparked by their boisterous rally Thursday during which "hundreds" of them waved Israeli flags and took down a Palestinian one.
The violence followed Maccabi's Europa League match against Ajax, which the latter won 5-0. Dutch authorities said the antisemitic rioters "actively sought out Israeli supporters" who were "ambushed." Sixty-two people have been arrested in connection with the disturbance.
For Israelis, the Israeli diaspora, and the Jewish community, the Amsterdam violence signifies a bleak picture of the escalating dangers worldwide, emphasizing a virulent resurgence of antisemitism. Often concealed as anti-Zionism, this hatred fuels disruptions, attacks, and a climate of rising hostility. Diaspora Jews are increasingly marginalized, excluded, and subjected to unrelenting intimidation and violence, often with state sponsorship. Urgent action is needed to confront this menace before it devastates Jewish life globally once again.
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