Maccabi Supporter Tel Aviv Playing Victim, Whereas Attacking First Palestinian Sympathizer In Amsterdam

JAKARTA - Clashes between Israeli club supporters, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, took place on Friday, November 8, 2024.

The riots occurred before and after the Ajax Amsterdam match hosted Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Johan Cruyff Arena in the 2024/2025 Europa League match.

The incident made the Israeli government react because it claimed its citizens in Amsterdam were victims of violence.

In fact, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a rescue plane to take home Israeli citizens there.

"Tighten the horrific incident very seriously and demand that the Dutch government and security forces take firm and swift action against rioters and ensure the safety of our citizens," Netanyahu said on Friday, November 8, 2024.

In fact, the reality is not so. Al Jazeera reported that the clash in the Ajax vs Maccabi Tel Aviv match was the aftermath of the violence perpetrated by the Israeli club's supporters.

Step Vaessen, a Al Jazeera journalist who reported from Amsterdam, said the clashes were the result of tensions rising over the previous few days.

"Hundreds of Maccabi supporters Tel Aviv came to Amsterdam, held a very vocal demonstration in the main square before the incident, raised the Israeli flag, and also lowered the Palestinian flag," he said.

On Thursday, November 7, 2024, local time, police said on social media that they were very vigilant following incidents of political content, including removing the Palestinian flag from a building.

Videos on social media recorded the reported incident, showing supporters Maccabi Tel Aviv chanting slogans while lowering the Palestinian flag.

Amsterdam City Council member Jazie Veldhuyzen said supporters Maccabi Tel Aviv sparked violence and attacked Palestinian sympathizers days before the match against Ajax.

"They started attacking people's homes in Amsterdam with Palestinian flags. So, that's where the violence actually started," Jazie Veldhuyzen told Al Jazeera.

"As a reaction, Amsterdam residents mobilized themselves and fought the attack which began on Wednesday (6 November 2024) by Maccabi spirals Tel Aviv," he said again.

Israeli political observer Ori Goldberg said the incident wanted to show a narrative that Israel had controlled Europe.

"The fact that Israeli supporters (Maccabi Tel Aviv, ed.) rioted in the middle of Amsterdam City, sang racist songs, and climbed the walls of the house to knock down the Palestinian flag."

"It is part of Israel's current condition, the total separation between action and consequences," Goldberg told Al Jazeera.

The Netherlands In Fact Protects Israeli Citizens

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations amid concerns over tensions between protesters and Maccabi supporters Tel Aviv.

Al Jazeera reported about 600 police officers were deployed after riots began between pro-Palestinian supporters and Maccabi supporters Tel Aviv.

According to police information, 62 people were arrested on Friday. Fans also left the stadium without incident, but several clashes in the city were reported to have occurred at night.

Interestingly, Jazie Veldhuyzen even revealed the fact that the Dutch government actually protected Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters who were the culprits of the riots.

This situation strengthens that the Israeli club's supporters turned out to be victims, not perpetrators.

"The mayor said the police were indeed acting, but I would say they were not acting at the right time."

"They acted only to protect Maccabi spirals Tel Aviv as Amsterdamese stood up to defend their people and defend their homes."

"That's when police appeared to protect Maccabi Tel Aviv fans as they fled after attacking people," the Amsterdam Council member said.

Veldhuyzen's statement received support from Ori Goldberg. In fact, the Israeli political observer emphasized that the actions of the Israeli and Dutch governments were a form of giving punishment to Maccabi supporters Tel Aviv.

Goldberg said Israel's reaction to the clash reflected total resistance to the idea that the action had consequences considering Maccabi supporters Tel Aviv was the trigger for the riots in Amsterdam.

"Netanyahu not only sent cargo planes, but also military cargo planes to save Israelis from lawsuits in Amsterdam," he told Al Jazeera.

Seeing the behavior of the Israeli government and supporters of the country's club, particularly Maccabi Tel Aviv, their widespread presence in several countries has been rejected.

Turkey, for example, will move the Europa League match between Beskitas and Maccabi Tel Aviv in neutral ground on November 28, 2024.

The decision was made directly by Turkish authorities who did not want a similar incident.

Maccabi Tel Aviv is now slumped at the bottom of the Europa League standings this season by being ranked 35th out of 36 performing clubs.