On a pogrom or not a pogrom – Jonathan Lis, Ofer Aderet, Avshalom Halutz, Reuters, Ben Samuels, Nitzan Livneh in Haaretz:

‘Israeli soccer fans who traveled to the Netherlands for the Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. Ajax Amsterdam Europa League match on Thursday were attacked at several locations across Amsterdam after the game. Assailants shouted "Free Palestine" and hurled insults in Arabic as they targeted Israelis.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry reported that 10 Israelis were wounded in the attacks. Local police reported that 62 people were arrested after the game as pro-Palestinian demonstrators attempted to reach the stadium despite a protest ban.’

(…)

‘U.S. President Joe Biden published a post on X, saying the attacks "echo dark moments in history when Jews were persecuted." He added that his administration has been in touch with Israeli and Dutch authorities on the matter.’

(…)

‘Another fan, Yarin Chai Yitzhak, reported being punched in the face and kicked in the stomach. He added that after the incident, local police escorted him back to his hotel to retrieve his belongings.
Following the attacks, the Israeli military banned all IDF personnel from traveling to the Netherlands until further notice.’

(…)

‘Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, urging swift action against the violence and antisemitism in Amsterdam and immediate help to evacuate Israelis. The king strongly condemned the attack, comparing it to the Netherlands' failure to protect Jews during the Holocaust, stating, "We failed the Jewish community of the Netherlands during World War II, and last night we failed again."’

(…)

‘Far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders wrote on X that it "looks like a Jew hunt in the streets of Amsterdam. Arrest and deport the multicultural scum that attacked Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in our streets. Ashamed that this can happen in the Netherlands. Totally unacceptable."
Looks like a Jew hunt in the streets of Amsterdam. Arrest and deport the multicultural scum that attacked Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in our streets. Ashamed that this can happen in The Netherlands. Totally unacceptable. https://t.co/Ju54TO27Ks — Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) November 8, 2024’

(…)

‘Videos on social media showed Israeli fans singing songs expressing joy over the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and chanting, "Let the IDF win – let's fuck the Arabs." In another video, an Israeli was filmed removing a Palestinian flag from a building, while his friends cheered and shouted, "Burn it already, and be done with it."’

(…)

‘Ajax, Amsterdam's main soccer team, is one of several European soccer teams that are seen as historically Jewish. For decades, many non-Jewish Ajax fans referred to themselves as "Jews" and waved Israeli flags at matches, while rival fans taunted Ajax supporters with antisemitic imagery and chants about Hamas, gas chambers, Nazis and burning Jews.
Before the game, Ajax fans hung pamphlets against Maccabi Tel Aviv and displayed Palestinian flags in areas where Israeli fans were staying.’

Read the article here.

No, this was not your average violence after a soccer match. The ritual of fighting after soccer has become rare anyhow, soccer nowadays is a bit to profitable to tolerate hooligans.

Most probably, this was antisemitic, even though I’m in favor of distinguishing Israelis from Jews. Not all Israelis are Jews, not all Jews are Israelis et cetera. And no, I’m not an anti-Zionist. Whether I believe that Zionism, one of the many spasms of the 19th century will save the Jews, is a whole different question. Whether they are still in urgent need to be saved might be the followup question. And no, there is no easy answer.

Also, I’m not sure if it’s the right time to sing IDF songs on the Dam Square in Amsterdam. Not that singing these songs would excuse violent behavior against the singers. But there is something called prudence, even when you are a soccer fan.

Another way of putting is: there is also hubris.

And hubris will always attract other sorts of hubris.

But anyhow, all this gave Mr. Wilders another excuse for his favorite hobby: writing and talking about deporting Muslims.

Well, in a week or four, we will have another scandal to distract us from boredom and some beautiful decay.