Maccabi vs Ajax Or The Manufacturing Of A Global Pro-Zionist Mob
On 6, 7 and 8 November 2025, the football match Maccabi Tel Aviv v. Ajax Amsterdam, became a catalyst for violence. Before the match there were aggressive and threatening messages left by Maccabi supporters on several social media platforms and, in the hours leading up the football match, Maccabi fans tore down a Palestinian flag, chanted anti-Palestinian slogans and attacked taxi drivers and others. The response to the attack on the taxi drivers was followed by a call for taxi drivers to mobilise. Five supporters of the Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv were taken to hospital on the night of 7 November after being attacked by what Amsterdam mayor, Femke Halsema, described as ‘hit and runs’ by ‘youths on scooters’ and referred to it as bringing ‘back memories of pogroms.’[1]
The violence against the Maccabi fans sparked outrage both in Israel and across the world contrary to the violent acts by the Maccabi supporters.[2] Although the violence was not aimed against Dutch Jews and their institutions, the perpetrators did ask people whether they were Israeli and, on social media and app groups, a few mentions were made of the violence against Maccabi fans being a ‘Jew hunt’.
In the hours and days after the violence, Dutch politicians, including Prime Minister Schoofs, described rioters variously as Muslims, members of the Amsterdam Islamic community, Moroccans, people with migration backgrounds etc., even though there were others participating as well.[3] In the days after there were several arrests made and, in December, four men were sentenced to community service and up to six months in prison for inciting and participating in the violence and group insult (against Jews). This was a more severe response than the norm. According to the court, ‘given the seriousness of the facts and the context they took place in, prison is appropriate.’[4]
In the aftermath of the Maccabi – Ajax riots on 8 November a number of plans were brought forward by politicians, ranging from ones already in existence (such as stronger monitoring of informal education) and plans that were already in the making (such as antisemitism education becoming part of citizenship courses) to new plans to be drawn up (mostly referring to an integration policy which contained more elements of compulsion).[5]
REFERENCES
[1] www.dutchnews.nl/2024/11/youths-on-scooters-targeted-maccabi-supporters-in-hit-and-runs/, accessed 8 January 2025.
[2] Netanyahu calls on Netherlands ‘to act decisively and swiftly against the rioters’ Times of Israel, 8 November 2024. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-calls-on-netherlands-to-act-decisively-and-swiftly-against-the-rioters/, accessed 1 May 2025.
[3] An admittedly brief summary of the events. Based upon two official sources from Amsterdam city and three media sources respectively: Statement local authorities Amsterdam, 8 November 2024, https://www.amsterdam.nl/bestuur-organisatie/college/burgemeester/persberichten/statement-amsterdamse-driehoek/ Raadsbrief (Council Letter), Amsterdam.nl, 11 November 2024, https://www.amsterdam.nl/nieuws/nieuwsoverzicht/raadsbrief/; Israeli soccer fans attacked in Amsterdam, with five hospitalised and dozens of suspects arrested, CBS News, 8 November 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amsterdam-israeli-soccer-fans-attacked-after-maccabi-match/; Hoe Amsterdam even het strijdtoneel werd van de Gaza-oorlog, (How Amsterdam for a moment became the battlefield of the Gaza-war), NRC Handelsblad, 7 January 2025, https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2024/12/28/hoe-amsterdam-even-strijdtoneel-werd-van-de-gaza-oorlog-a4877883, Waarom gingen media mee in Israëlische propaganda over geweld in Amsterdam? (Why did the media go along with Israeli propaganda about violence in Amsterdam?) Oneworldnl, 15 November 2024, https://www.oneworld.nl/mensenrechten/waarom-gingen-media-mee-in-israelische-propaganda-over-geweld-amsterdam/. All last accessed on 7 January 2025.
[4] Vijf mannen veroordeeld voor ongeregeldheden rondom werdstrijd Ajax – Maccabi Tel Avivi (Five men convicted for riots surrounding the Ajax – Maccabi Tel Aviv football match), Rechtspraak.nl, 24 January 2024, https://www.rechtspraak.nl/Organisatie-en-contact/Organisatie/Rechtbanken/Rechtbank-Amsterdam/Nieuws/Paginas/Vijf-mannen-veroordeeld-voor-ongeregeldheden-rondom-wedstrijd-Ajax-Maccabi-Tel-Aviv.aspx, last accessed 7 January 2025.
[5] Protest planned over Dutch parliamentary motion to keep details of migrants. The Guardian, 6 December, 2024, www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/06/protest-planned-against-dutch-parliament-motion-to-keep-records-on-migrants, accessed 11 January 2025.
