Austrian bishop describes anti-Semitic incident in Amsterdam as a “deeply alarming sign”

CNA Staff November 8, 2024 / 5:40 p.m

After a group of Israeli soccer fans were beaten and taunted as Jews by groups of young men after a game in Amsterdam, an Austrian bishop condemned the violence, saying it was reminiscent of “Kristallnacht,” “the darkest and most shameful days of our time.” Story.”

After a soccer match between a Dutch and an Israeli team on Thursday evening, at least 10 young men on scooters sought out Israeli fans, verbally and physically attacked them with punches and kicks, and then quickly fled the scene.

“They were shouting ‘Jewish, Jewish, IDF, IDF,'” a 24-year-old victim told the BBC. The IDF, Israel Defense Forces, is the country’s military. Another victim said the attackers shouted “Palestine” while beating him.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema called the violence an “outbreak of anti-Semitism,” while Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof called the attacks “unacceptable” and vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable.

Archbishop Franz Lackner of Salzburg, president of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference, described the incident as a “deeply alarming sign” in an interview on November 8.

He noted that the Amsterdam incident occurred just days before the annual commemorations of Kristallnacht, the brutal pogroms carried out by the Nazis against Jews in Germany, the annexed country of Austria and other Nazi-controlled areas. From November 9th to 10th, 1938, the Nazis ransacked and destroyed hundreds of Jewish-owned businesses, synagogues, and homes.

Lackner called for prayers for peace in Israel and Palestine. He added that any ideology, including religious or political opinions, that permits or justifies violence against Jews has no place in society.

“We have to defend ourselves against this,” he said.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the incident on social media as an “anti-Semitic pogrom.” Dutch King Willem-Alexander Herzog reportedly called to apologize for the incident.

The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately organized special flights to evacuate Jewish people from Amsterdam on Friday and Saturday.

Encyclical of St. Paul VI from 1965 Nostrae Aetate made clear the Church’s condemnation of hatred and violence against Jews and Judaism and condemned any “hatred, persecution and expression of anti-Semitism directed against Jews at any time and by anyone” (Nostra Aetate4).

The US-based Anti-Defamation League has recorded a sharp increase in the number of anti-Semitic attacks and incidents since Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, 2023. According to this group, anti-Semitic incidents increased by more than 350% in the first 100 days after the invasion.

According to the group’s data, most of these incidents were either “verbal or written harassment” or “rallies” containing anti-Semitic rhetoric and “statements of support for terrorism against the State of Israel and/or anti-Zionism.” In addition, dozens of attacks and hundreds of reports of vandalism were recorded.

For their part, the Catholic bishops of the United States have in recent years condemned what they call a “resurgence of anti-Semitism in new forms.” In a statement issued before the current Israel-Hamas conflict began, the bishops called on Christians to join them in the fight against anti-Semitic acts and reminded believers of the common heritage of Christianity and Judaism.