Amsterdam street attack shows dangerous shift in European society
Recent violent assault on Israeli citizens in Amsterdam brings back dark memories of Europeʼs past. Growing anti-Jewish incidents across Western countries signal a worrying change in social attitudes
In early-11/2024‚ a disturbing incident shook Amsterdamʼs streets when masked attackers targeted Israeli citizens (an event that goes beyond typical sports-related conflict)
The assault showed raw hatred - attackers kicked unconscious victims while shouting anti-Jewish slurs. One victim tried reasoning with attackers: “Im not Jewish“ while another offered money to stop the beating
Cancerous Jews
Amsterdamʼs transformation from a safe-haven for Jews to this current state is extra-meaningful because of its timing near the 85th anniversary of kristallnacht. The city that protected Anne Frank now faces a different reality
Since the events of 10/7/23‚ Western societies have seen a big change in how people express anti-jewish views. Campus life shows this shift clearly:
- protests at universities
- threats against jewish students
- anti-israel demonstrations
- social-media attacks
The UK has seen its share of problems too - with vandals destroying a bust of Chaim Weizman and putting hate-messages on pro-israel buildings. Local jewish groups dont feel as safe as before
Claudia Mendoza‚ who leads the Jewish Leadership Council thinks this Amsterdam attack might repeat elsewhere if nothing changes - authorities need to work harder but society also needs to think about why it lets some kinds of hate slide
