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Palestinian Rapper Twice Applauds Amsterdam ‘Pogrom’ Violence Against Israeli Soccer Fans

The Palestinian singer and musician Marwan Abdelhamid, AKA Saint Levant, performs live at Alcatraz. Milan (Italy), October 30th 2024. Photo: Elena Di Vincenzo/Mondadori Portfolio/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

Palestinian rapper Saint Levant praised the recent violent antisemitic attacks targeting Israelis in Amsterdam during his performance in the Dutch city last week, before further taunting pro-Israel supporters by posting on social media more brazen applause for the violence that has been described as a “pogrom” targeting Jews.

The rapper, whose real name is Marwan Abdelhamid, performed on Nov. 12 at the concert hall and club Paradiso Amsterdam. His sold-out concert took place a few days after fans of the Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv were run over by cars, beat up, and chased with knives, rocks, and sticks in Amsterdam by Arab and Muslim gangs, who also shouted anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian slogans. The violence took place during the early hours of Nov. 8 following a soccer match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and their Dutch rivals Ajax.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon called the violence a “pogrom,” while Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said the “hit-and-run” antisemitic attacks were a “poisonous cocktail” of antisemitism and hooligan actions. On the social media platform Telegram, users talked about going on a “Jew hunt,” Halsema said.

Hard-right Dutch political leader Geert Wilders, from the anti-immigration Party for Freedom, blamed “Moroccans who want to destroy Jews” for the attacks. Wilders gave no evidence for his claims, but in videos shared from the violence, some of the attackers could be heard speaking Moroccan Arabic and Berber languages native to Morocco, according to NBC News. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof merely said the attackers have an “immigration background.” Dutch Police and prosecutors have not revealed the identities of anyone who has been arrested in connection to the attacks.

The Network Contagion Research Institute published an analysis of open-source intelligence and social media showing that the violence against Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam was a premeditated and coordinated attack orchestrated with extremist networks linked to a former employee of the controversial United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

Sometime during his set at Paradiso Amsterdam on Nov. 12, Saint Levant stopped to address the audience and talk to them about the violence targeting Israelis in the city. “Quick little shoutout to our Moroccan brothers for what they did the other day,” he told the crowd. “Because it’s not the first time that they come to a land that’s not theirs and start some shit. So thank you for taking care of business.”

His comments drew attention from Israeli social media influencer and activist Hen Mazzig, who posted a video on TikTok of Levant making the remarks on stage and accused him of promoting “gross anti-Jewish rhetoric.” On Sunday, Saint Levant shared on his Instagram Story a repost of Mazzig’s video and again reiterated his support for the violence targeting Israelis. The rapper told Mazzig, “keep crying,” and wrote “Thank you Morocco.”

“israelis [sic] go around chanting ‘death to Arabs’ and think they’re not gonna get beat up?” he added.

Photo: Screenshot

Born in Jerusalem during the Second Intifada, Saint Levant’s mother is French-Algerian and his father, an architect/entrepreneur, is Serbian-Palestinian, according to the rapper’s website. He spent 10 years growing up in Gaza and is currently based in Los Angeles, California. In early 2024, Levant signed with Universal Arabic Music label, which is founded by Wassim “Sal” Slaiby, manager of the Weeknd and CEO of The Weeknd’s record label XO.

In an Instagram post, Paradiso Amsterdam hailed Saint Levant’s performance at its venue last week. The hall wrote in a Dutch-language post that the rapper “took his audience on a journey of music, connection, and solidarity.”

The post Palestinian Rapper Twice Applauds Amsterdam ‘Pogrom’ Violence Against Israeli Soccer Fans first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Germany’s Scholz Rebukes Vance, Defends Europe’s Stance on Hate Speech and Far Right

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks to the media after he met former prisoners following the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West in decades, at the military area of Cologne Bonn Airport in Cologne, Germany, August 1, 2024. Photo: Christoph Reichwein/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivered a strong rebuke on Saturday to US Vice President JD Vance’s attack on Europe’s stance toward hate speech and the far right, saying it was not right for others to tell Germany and Europe what to do.

Vance lambasted European leaders on Friday, the first day of the Munich Security Conference, accusing them of censoring free speech and criticizing German mainstream parties’ “firewall” against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

“That is not appropriate, especially not among friends and allies. We firmly reject that,” Scholz told the conference on Saturday, adding there were “good reasons” not to work with the AfD.

The anti-immigration party, currently polling at around 20% ahead of Germany’s February 23 national election, has pariah status among other major German parties in a country with a taboo about ultranationalist politics because of its Nazi past.

“Never again fascism, never again racism, never again aggressive war. That is why an overwhelming majority in our country opposes anyone who glorifies or justifies criminal National Socialism,” Scholz said, referring to the ideology of Adolf Hitler’s 1933-45 Nazi regime.

Vance met on Friday with the leader of AfD, after endorsing the party as a political partner — a stance Berlin dismissed as unwelcome election interference.

Referring more broadly to Vance’s criticism of Europe’s curtailing of hate speech, which he has likened to censorship, Scholz said: “Today’s democracies in Germany and Europe are founded on the historic awareness and realization that democracies can be destroyed by radical anti-democrats.

“And this is why we’ve created institutions that ensure that our democracies can defend themselves against their enemies, and rules that do not restrict or limit our freedom but protect it.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot added his voice to the defense of Europe’s stance on hate speech.

“No one is required to adopt our model but no one can impose theirs on us,” Barrot said on X from Munich. “Freedom of speech is guaranteed in Europe.”

UKRAINE

The prospect of talks to end the Ukraine-Russia war had been expected to dominate the annual Munich conference after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin this week, but Vance barely mentioned Russia or Ukraine in his speech to the gathering on Friday.

Instead, he said the threat to Europe that worried him most was not Russia or China but what he called a retreat from fundamental values of protecting free speech – as well as immigration, which he said was “out of control” in Europe.

Many conference delegates watched Vance’s speech in stunned silence. There was little applause as he delivered his remarks.

Asked by the panel moderator if he thought there was anything in Vance’s speech worth reflecting on, Scholz drew laughter and applause in the crowd when he responded, in a deadpan manner: “You mean all these very relevant discussions about Ukraine and security in Europe?”

The post Germany’s Scholz Rebukes Vance, Defends Europe’s Stance on Hate Speech and Far Right first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Trump Team to Start Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks in Saudi Arabia in Coming Days, Politico Reports

US Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) speaks on Day 1 of the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, July 15, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Mike Segar

Senior officials from US President Donald Trump’s administration will start peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, Politico reported on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the plan.

US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia, the report said. Special envoy for Ukraine-Russia talks, Keith Kellogg, will not be in attendance, according to the report.

The post Trump Team to Start Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks in Saudi Arabia in Coming Days, Politico Reports first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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UN Peacekeeping Mission Deputy Commander Injured After Convoy Attacked in Beirut

FILE PHOTO: A UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) vehicle is seen next to piled up debris at Beirut’s port, Lebanon October 23, 2020. Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo

The outgoing deputy force commander of the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) in Lebanon was injured on Friday after a convoy taking peacekeepers to Beirut airport was “violently attacked,” UNIFIL said.

The mission demanded a full and immediate investigation by Lebanese authorities and for all perpetrators to be brought to justice, it said in a statement.

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack on Saturday, saying that security forces would not tolerate anyone who tries to destabilize the country, according to a statement from his office.

The French government also condemned the attack.

“France calls on the Lebanese security forces to guarantee the security of blue-helmet peacekeeping forces, and calls on Lebanon’s judicial authorities to shed all light on this unacceptable attack and to go after those responsible,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

Lebanon’s Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar called for an emergency meeting before noon on Saturday to discuss the security situation, Lebanese state news agency NNA reported.

“He affirmed the Lebanese government’s rejection of this assault that is considered a crime against UNIFIL forces,” NNA reported, citing the minister.

He also gave instructions to work on identifying the perpetrators and referring them to the relevant judicial authorities.

The minister told reporters on Saturday that more than 25 people had been detained for investigation over the attack.

The United States earlier condemned the attack. A State Department statement said the attack was carried out “reportedly by a group of Hezbollah supporters”, referring to the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon.

The post UN Peacekeeping Mission Deputy Commander Injured After Convoy Attacked in Beirut first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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