Guest blog post by Sandy Lightstone Hildebrandt for Dayenu

Guest blog post: Response to RNZ Article: “Israel to collect soccer fans from Amsterdam after apparent antisemitic attacks” by Sandy Lightstone Hildebrandt for Dayenu

Amidst the many articles from various media on the situation in the Netherlands, we were very concerned and disappointed to see that RNZ had republished such skewed, one-sided reporting from a Reuters article: “Israel to collect soccer fans from Amsterdam after apparent antisemitic attacks,” published 8 November [1]. This is a direct breach of New Zealand Media Council’s Principle 1: Accuracy, Fairness and Balance. 

As members of Dayenu, New Zealand Jews Against Occupation, we are all too familiar with the dangers of antisemitism. We have seen how very real, violent antisemitism can be dismissed and overlooked due to the pervasive “crying wolf” done in the name of defending aggressive nationalism in favour of the Israeli state. 

The article reported on the clash between pro-Palestine protesters in the Netherlands and fans of the Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv. It failed to mention multiple essential facts, while repeating rhetoric about antisemitism that muddies the waters and could put Jewish people in very real danger. 

For one, the article failed to address the history and reputation of the Maccabi Tel Aviv team and its fans, who are known for their aggressive, anti-Arab racism, which got them in trouble with the Israel Football Association and The Tel Aviv District Prosecutor’s Office in 2014 [2] and [3]. It failed to mention that in Amsterdam, the Maccabi fans chanted, “There are no schools in Gaza because there are no children left,” and, “Let the IDF win, and f**k the Arabs” [4].

There was no mention of the fact that the fans went to people’s private homes and tore down their Palestinian flags, or that this was confirmed by Amsterdam Councilman Jazie Veldhuyzen, who stated: “They began attacking houses of people in Amsterdam with Palestinian flags, so that’s actually where the violence started” [4].

The racist abuse was noted by Jews as well. A local Jewish group in Amsterdam, Erev Rav, condemned the behaviour of the Maccabi fans, stating, “One cannot engage in violent and disruptive actions and then cry ‘antisemitism’ to avoid accountability. Our identities do not exist to absolve our actions” [5]. They added, “We find this weaponization of Jewish safety incredibly alarming.” 

Ofer Cassif, member of the Knesset in Israel, made a statement on Twitter in response to the incident:  “The spirit of Israeli fascism has reached Amsterdam: fans go on a violent rampage, beating, tearing up Palestinian flags in the streets as if they were an occupying force and shouting Nazi slogans in favor of the extermination of a nation…” [6].

We have watched as the state of Israel and its most ardent defenders dodge accountability for violence, racism, and outright genocide time and again by using the cry of “antisemitism.” This word once had meaning, but it is quickly losing its legitimacy. We hope that RNZ will be more vigilant about adhering to New Zealand Media Council’s principles and ensuring that harmful rhetoric does not influence Aotearoa’s public news source. 

Sources 

[1] Alashray, Enas and Meijer, Bart H. RNZ, “Israel to collect soccer fans from Amsterdam after apparent antisemitic attacks.” Republished from Reuters 8 November, 2024 https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/533276/israel-to-collect-soccer-fans-from-amsterdam-after-apparent-antisemitic-attacks

[2] New Israel Fund, “Kick It Out Complaint Leads to Charges Against Racist Fans.” December, 2014.

Kick it Out Complaint Leads to Charges Against Racist Fans

[3] Haaretz, “When It Comes to Racism on the Football Field, the Ball Is in the Court’s Hands.” 23 November, 2014.

https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2014-11-23/ty-article/the-ball-is-in-the-courts-hands/0000017f-ec78-ddba-a37f-ee7e7c060000

[4] Al Jazeera, “Israeli football fans clash with protesters in Amsterdam.” 8 November, 2024.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/8/israeli-football-fans-clash-with-protesters-in-amsterdam

[5] Erev Rav statement on Instagram, 9 November, 2024 https://www.instagram.com/p/DCHr9XMoYK7/?igsh=YnpoZzRkYzM2MXR4

[6] Ofer Cassif statement on Twitter, 9 November, 2024. https://x.com/ofercass/status/1854863098559271165?t=B4D2Lm2IgD1caMOAuzeB4w&s=19