Femke Halsema, the mayor of Amsterdam, may have sparked a diplomatic incident when she expressed regret over using the term "pogrom" following attacks on Israelis in her city during a soccer match. This statement came after violent incidents that began on the night before the November 7 game.
Halsema, a member of the Green Party, noted that the term had been politicized, leading Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, to label her remarks as "utterly unacceptable." Saar insisted that the attacks warranted the term "pogrom."
The term "pogrom" historically refers to violent riots against Jews, particularly in Eastern Europe from the 1880s through the Bolshevik Revolution. While it is now applied to various ethnically or religiously motivated attacks, its historical context remains significant. The recent sensitivity to antisemitism has heightened since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in numerous casualties and kidnappings.
Halsema's reluctance to use the term has raised concerns about the potential misuse of language to advance agendas against Muslims. Geert Wilders, a far-right politician, also employed the term while promoting an anti-immigration platform. Journalist Hassnae Bouazza warned that using "pogrom" could legitimize hostility towards Muslim migrants and exacerbate societal divisions.
Keren Hirsch, a Jewish councilwoman in Amsterdam, supported Halsema's revised stance, emphasizing that the focus should be on combating antisemitism rather than fostering anti-Muslim sentiments. The historical implications of "pogrom" are significant, especially in light of recent antisemitic incidents in Amsterdam, which are tied to broader geopolitical tensions.
Concerns persist within the Jewish community regarding the appropriateness of the term "pogrom" in contemporary contexts, particularly given that many Jews now live in secure environments within liberal democracies or Israel. The invocation of the term can evoke deep historical fears and may lead to misinterpretations of current events.
Recent violence in Amsterdam, which included attacks on Israeli fans following a soccer match, has led some scholars to argue that these incidents could indeed be classified as a pogrom. The attacks were reportedly fueled by underlying tensions related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Scholars assert that the term "pogrom" lacks a formal legal definition, making its application subjective. The violence that occurred in Amsterdam was characterized not only by assaults on individuals but also by a broader cultural and political backdrop that complicates the narrative.
Some experts argue that labeling the Amsterdam incidents as a pogrom could detract from a nuanced understanding of the root causes of antisemitism and anti-Jewish sentiment. This perspective emphasizes the importance of addressing the complexities of contemporary Jewish identity and the socio-political dynamics at play.
The situation has left many Jews in the Netherlands feeling caught between opposing political factions, with some blaming minorities for the violence while others defend them. The discourse surrounding these events highlights the precarious position of Jewish communities in a polarized political landscape.