RSS
75% of Dutch Jews Were Killed in the Holocaust; Those Left Now Face Increasing Threats and Discrimination
Inside a recreation of the room Anne Frank shared in the annex while hiding from the Nazis in The Netherlands. Photo: John Halpern
What does it mean to live as a Jew or an open supporter of Israel in the Netherlands today? Increasingly, it means walking a fine line between identity and safety. What once was considered a bastion of liberal values and open-mindedness is now showing signs of regression, where expressing certain beliefs can carry real professional and social risks.
When Support for Israel Becomes a Liability
Despite strong qualifications and years of experience, some individuals now find that job opportunities quietly vanish once their views on Israel are known. A Google search that reveals support for the Jewish State can be enough to brand someone “divisive” — not because of their actions, but simply because they dare to voice dissent from the dominant narrative.
This isn’t a theoretical concern. According to a 2023 report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), Dutch Jews report some of the highest levels of fear in Europe regarding verbal abuse, social exclusion, and discrimination, especially in professional environments. The report found that nearly 35% of Dutch Jews avoid wearing symbols of their identity in public.
A Historical Echo
The Netherlands has long promoted itself as a tolerant and equitable society. Yet, historical memory paints a more complex picture. During the Holocaust, roughly 102,000 Jews, about 75% of the Jewish population in the Netherlands, were deported and murdered. While there were courageous individuals who resisted, the broader society often complied or looked away.
We may not be seeing the same uniforms or policies today, but the moral ambivalence feels disturbingly familiar. Subtle pressures — social, professional, and institutional — are pushing Dutch Jews and Israel supporters into silence. Symbols of support for Palestinian nationalism, including keffiyehs and “From the river to the sea” slogans, are increasingly common in workplaces and protests, even though the latter has been widely criticized by Jewish organizations as a call for the elimination of Israel.
The “Respectable” Face of a Dangerous Trend
Modern antisemitism rarely presents as overt hatred. Instead, it hides behind the language of human rights and activism. In Dutch universities and offices, there is growing tolerance for anti-Israel sentiment that often crosses into antisemitic territory. In contrast, Jewish identity and Zionist viewpoints are increasingly seen as provocations.
One law firm employee shared her discomfort at colleagues wearing politically charged symbols in support of Palestine, while she felt compelled to hide her Star of David necklace. In another instance, a respectful disagreement with a colleague’s anti-Israel post led to a formal reprimand, not for harassment, but for challenging a prevailing narrative.
This is not free speech. This is selective tolerance, in which only certain perspectives are protected. It’s a climate in which Dutch Jews must weigh every expression of their identity against potential backlash.
Security and Silence
The rise in visible antisemitism in the Netherlands has prompted increased security at Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centers. According to the Netherlands Coordination Forum for Countering Antisemitism (CIDI), antisemitic incidents rose significantly in 2023, especially following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in October. These included online abuse, harassment, and physical threats.
Students at major universities have reported feeling unsafe expressing Jewish identity, let alone support for Israel. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian demonstrations in cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam often feature slogans and chants that international watchdogs classify as hate speech.
The Price of Looking Away
The contradiction is stark: a country that celebrates diversity and inclusion often fails to extend those values to its Jewish citizens. The silence of progressive institutions in the face of antisemitic expression, so long as it’s framed as “anti-Zionist,” exposes a growing moral disconnect.
What we are witnessing is not simply a political disagreement over Middle East policy. It is the erosion of democratic norms under pressure from ideological conformity. And it has real consequences for those who find themselves on the wrong side of public sentiment.
A Call to Conscience
For those of us who have felt the cost of speaking out — whether through lost job prospects, social isolation, or fear — this is not an abstract debate. It is personal. But silence is not an option. If the Netherlands wishes to remain a truly open society, it must defend the rights of all its citizens, including Jews and Zionists, to participate in public life without fear.
History has shown us what happens when societies allow prejudice to fester unchallenged. Let’s not wait for hindsight to remind us of what we failed to defend.
The author is the CEO of Time to Stand Up for Israel.
The post 75% of Dutch Jews Were Killed in the Holocaust; Those Left Now Face Increasing Threats and Discrimination first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
RSS
Israeli Cruise Ship Targeted Again as Pro-Palestinian Protests Escalate in Greece
Greek riot police clash with pro-Palestinian protesters near the port of Rhodes during a demonstration targeting an Israeli cruise ship. Photo: Screenshot
Pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with Greek riot police on Monday on the island of Rhodes as they attempted to block an Israeli cruise ship from docking at the island’s main port.
The MS Crown Iris — operated by Israeli cruise line Mano Maritime — was once again targeted by anti-Israel activists this week.
Demonstrations against the war in Gaza took place during the ship’s scheduled stop on the island, where more than 600 passengers were set to disembark.
According to videos circulating on social media, riot police can be seen confronting a group of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near the dock, who shouted antisemitic slogans like “Freedom for Palestine.”
As authorities worked to control the crowd, tensions escalated and brief clashes broke out.
Ένταση στο λιμάνι της Ροδου με την άφιξη Ισραηλινών τουριστών, πολλες προσαγωγές.
Συνελήφθη υποψήφια βουλευτής της Πλεύσης ελευθερίας. pic.twitter.com/gAPnUnxu1A
— Ακροκεντρώος (@akrokentrwos_2) July 28, 2025
However, unlike a previous incident, passengers were able to disembark from the cruise ship without any major interruptions.
Last week, approximately 1,600 Israeli passengers expecting a peaceful stop on their cruise were unable to disembark from a ship docked on the island of Syros after a pro-Palestinian protest erupted at the port, raising safety concerns.
Around 300 protesters had gathered at the dock to protest against the war in Gaza, while Syros Port Authority police guarded the area and intervened to prevent violence until the ship departed.
Amid the large anti-Israel protest, the cruise company chose to divert the ship to Limassol, Cyprus.
In videos circulating on social media, protesters were seen waving Palestinian flags and holding banners with slogans such as “Stop the Genocide” and “No AC [Air Conditioning] in Hell,” while chanting antisemitic slogans.
Since the Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, antisemitic incidents have surged to alarming levels across Europe. This recent incident appears to be just one of the latest in a wave of anti-Jewish hate crimes that Greece and other countries have witnessed in recent months.
Earlier this month in Athens, a group of pro-Palestinian activists vandalized an Israeli restaurant, shouting antisemitic slurs and spray-painting graffiti with slogans such as “No Zionist is safe here.”
The attackers also posted a sign on one of the restaurant’s windows that read, “All IDF soldiers are war criminals — we don’t want you here,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces.
Last month, an Israeli tourist was attacked by a group of pro-Palestinian activists after they overheard him using Google Maps in Hebrew while navigating through Athens.
When the attackers realized the victim was speaking Hebrew, they began physically assaulting him while shouting antisemitic slurs.
The post Israeli Cruise Ship Targeted Again as Pro-Palestinian Protests Escalate in Greece first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
RSS
Ritchie Torres Says Netanyahu Has Done ‘Irreparable’ Harm to Democratic Party Relationship With Israel
US Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) standing at the US Capitol in February of 2023. Photo: Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), one of Israel’s most vocal supporters in Congress, delivered pointed criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, saying the longtime leader has “done harm” to Israel’s relationship with the Democratic Party and called for an end to the war in Gaza.
“If you’re a Democrat, and if you’re a Democrat of color and if you’re a Black Democrat, you take immense pride in Barack Obama. He represents one of the greatest achievements in politics. We take great pride in his presidency,” Torres said in an interview with . “To see a foreign leader visibly disrespect him in the manner that Bibi Netanyahu did, I feel did irreparable damage to the relationship with the Democratic Party.”
Torres offered a gloomy assessment of Netanyahu’s relationship with the Democratic party, arguing that “the damage may be irreparable.” He also cautioned that support for the Jewish state is rapidly “eroding” according to various polls.
Furthermore, Torres stated that despite his strident support for Israel, he does not “consider myself having a good relationship with the Israeli government.”
Torres said that Netanyahu “made a terrible mistake” in establishing a cozy relationship with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, arguing that the Israeli premier politicized the US-Israel relationship. The progressive lawmaker said that there is a “legitimate perception that the present Israeli government is just aligned with the Republican Party.”
The remarks represent a notable shift from Torres, a New York Democrat who has historically defended Israel amid bipartisan divisions over the war. While maintaining his commitment to Israel’s security, Torres said Netanyahu’s government has failed to articulate a clear endgame in Gaza and warned that the ongoing military campaign is undermining both humanitarian values and strategic interests.
“There’s a real need to end the war, secure the release of the hostages, bring humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in distress.”
Torres cited prominent Israeli journalists and media figures that have warned that Gaza has approached “catastrophic” levels of hunger and that famine might be looming without a rapid policy shift.
Torres’s comments come amid growing pressure from the Democratic base on centrist and progressive Democrats alike to take a firmer stance on Israel’s military operations, which have resulted in the deaths of more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Israel launched its campaign following the October 7 Hamas attack that killed approximately 1,200 people and took over 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials.
Torres’s comments underscore a growing divide within the Democratic Party over the U.S.-Israel relationship. While the party remains broadly supportive of Israel’s right to defend itself, a significant faction ,including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) condemned the war in Gaza and called for a suspension of U.S. military aid to Israel.
The post Ritchie Torres Says Netanyahu Has Done ‘Irreparable’ Harm to Democratic Party Relationship With Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
RSS
Israeli Defense Firm Lands Huge Deal With Germany
An Elbit Systems Ltd. Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is seen at Elbit’s drone factory in Rehovot, Israel, June 28, 2018. Photo: REUTERS/Orel Cohen
On Monday, Elbit Systems Ltd., a military contractor based in Israel, announced it had received a $260 million government contract from Germany to spend six years installing Directional Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) self-protection systems for defending Germany’s A400M aircraft fleet.
The contract is just the latest in a string of blockbuster deals between Israeli defense firms and international militaries. Israeli defense exports to Europe jumped to 54% of overall defense exports last year, up from just over 33% in 2023, according to the Israeli media outlet Globes.
Elbit’s defense system works to counter infrared-guided missiles, with a focus on mobile anti-aircraft weapons. It offers the ability to track missile threats as they happen and also provides automatic protection without needed human action.
Other countries which have deployed the system include Israel, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Brazil. In February, Morocco announced plans to purchase 36 Atmos 2000 self-propelled artillery systems from Elbit, making Israel the country’s third largest weapons supplier.
“This contract further strengthens Elbit Systems’ position as a leading global provider of DIRCM solutions,” Elbit president and CEO Bezhalel Machlis said. “Our systems are already trusted by numerous air forces and defense organizations around the world, and we are proud to support Germany in enhancing the protection of their strategic air assets. Our successful collaboration with Airbus DS on this important program is highly valued, and we are pleased that our advanced self-protection systems will contribute to the safety and operational readiness of the German A400M fleet.”
The announcement prompted Elbit’s share price to jump 1 percent on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE).
Since Israel’s 12-day war against Iran, Israel’s financial markets have been buoyed by significant foreign investment and renewed investor confidence. Over the past year, the TASE has repeatedly broken past its all-time highs, despite Israel’s multi-front wars.
On Friday, Germany announced that it would not join France in recognizing a Palestinian state. A government spokesperson said “Israel’s security is of paramount importance to the German government” and that “the German government therefore has no plans to recognize a Palestinian state in the short term.”
On Monday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the country had no plans to sanction Israel and that “for now, we want to await the foreign minister’s trip and the talks that will be held with the Israeli government in the coming days.”
The post Israeli Defense Firm Lands Huge Deal With Germany first appeared on Algemeiner.com.