Western media overlook Israeli provocations, focus on 'anti-semitism'
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Dutch newspapers have presented a politically sympathetic view toward "Israel".
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Pro-Palestinians demonstrate at Amsterdam's Anton de Komplein square ahead of the UEFA Europa League football match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv on November 7, 2024, in the aftermath of provocations by Israelis. (AFP)
Al Mayadeen’s envoy to Amsterdam reported a return to calm in the city on Saturday, with only a few police vehicles seen patrolling the streets. The protests have largely subsided following the departure of Israelis who had arrived from the occupied Palestinian territories.
Our correspondent also noted that Dutch authorities had imposed a ban on demonstrations in Dam Square, located in the city center. However, pro-Palestinian supporters chose to protest in the nearby city of Schiedam, voicing opposition to the Dutch government and other European governments’ support for "Israel" in the wake of the recent events.
Furthermore, he pointed out that European governments and Western media focused on "anti-Semitism" and the confrontations that occurred overnight, without addressing the provocations initiated by Israelis.
He noted that Dutch newspapers presented a politically sympathetic view toward "Israel". While their reports described the events, they failed to mention that Israelis had sparked the unrest by vandalizing cars, tearing down Palestinian flags, and verbally attacking Arab communities. Instead, the headlines emphasized that Israelis had been subjected to "anti-Semitic" attacks.
Our envoy also noted that the Western response to the events in Amsterdam mirrored the reaction to Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. He highlighted how Europeans appear to have overlooked "Israel’s" actions since the occupation of Palestine, framing the struggle as if it began only on October 7. He noted that the same narrative is being repeated today, with Dutch and Western media focusing on recent protests without acknowledging the underlying provocations initiated by Israelis.
He also reported that King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands said to Israeli President Isaac Herzog in a phone call on Friday morning, "We failed the Jewish community of the Netherlands during World War II, and last night we failed again."
Commenting on this issue, our correspondent stated that European governments and the media are unwilling to acknowledge the true nature of the events. Instead, they convey a message to Arabs and supporters of the Palestinian cause, "You were insulted, you were attacked, you witnessed Palestinian flags being torn, and yet you are expected to remain silent."
Clashes in Amsterdam after Israeli vandalism, provocations
Violence erupted across Amsterdam, the Netherlands late Thursday when supporters of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv stormed through the city, tearing down Palestinian flags displayed on private property and chanting incendiary slogans, according to reports and footage circulated widely on social media platforms.
The events, which unfolded before and after Maccabi’s match against Ajax, have ignited widespread outrage, with accounts of Israeli fans clashing with bystanders, damaging property, and burning the Palestinian flags.
Widely circulated videos on social media show Maccabi fans vandalizing private property, assaulting a local taxi driver, and clashing with law enforcement officials.
Israeli soldiers took part in Amsterdam riots
Touching on the events, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the incident began when thousands of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters, including Israeli soldiers, organized provocative marches through Amsterdam, adding that the events continued into the morning.
He mentioned that they repeated offensive, provocative slogans and threatened that the Israeli military would act against Arabs while mocking the children and people of the Gaza Strip.
The Israelis also took down dozens of Palestinian flags that Dutch citizens had placed on their windows and balconies for months as a symbol of support for the Palestinians, our correspondent confirmed, noting that this was documented in videos that circulated widely across social media, which also showed violent clashes between hundreds of Palestinian supporters of various nationalities and Israelis.
He added that footage shows hundreds of Israelis fleeing, with some throwing themselves into the nearby river in central Amsterdam, fearing retaliation from pro-Paletine supporters.
Regarding the situation in Amsterdam, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the police arrested 57 individuals, whose identities remain unknown.
He pointed out that the Dutch government bears responsibility for the events, as it banned the pro-Palestine demonstration before the match and arrested two Palestinian supporters, while simultaneously allowing the Israelis to demonstrate and engage in provocative acts, including the removal of Palestinian flags.
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