The Netherlands will appoint a coordinator to fight anti-Semitism Israel today

Following a series of anti-Jewish incidents in the Western European country, the government has decided to step up its efforts to combat the phenomenon. • The Jewish community welcomes the move

• Destruction of a Jewish cemetery // Photo: AP

The Netherlands announced today (Monday) that it will appoint a national coordinator to combat anti-Semitism in light of the steep rise in the number of incidents in the country.

Anti-Semitism in the Netherlands has been on a steep upward trend for a long time.

Just last weekend there was a shocking incident when graffiti of swastikas was spray-painted on the doors of two synagogues in the city of Utrecht. 

Against the background of the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents and discourse and following pressure from Jewish communities and heads of Jewish organizations, Dutch Justice Minister Fred Gerperhaus announced today that the state parliament will appoint a special national coordinator to fight anti-Semitism in the EU and several other countries.

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The main task of the new national coordinator will be to advise the government on dealing with anti-Semitism from a legal point of view and on ensuring the security of the Jewish community in the Netherlands.

The move was welcomed by leaders of leading Jewish communities and organizations in the Netherlands and Europe

The chairman of the Dutch Communities Association IPOR and a member of the Board of the Association of Jewish Organizations in Europe (EJA) Alan van Prague noted following the announcement of the expected appointment:

Although in this case it seems that there were mental health problems, but it is quite clear to us that the corona plague brought out the worst among some people and led to an increase in antisemitic incidents, the number of which worries Jews everywhere in the Netherlands.

The fact that the government has decided to go in and deal with the basic reasons for this is welcome, as is its commitment to preserving Jewish communities and institutions in the Netherlands and we at IPOR look forward to working closely with the National Coordinator to do so.

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The chief rabbi of the Netherlands, Benjamin Jacobs, one of the founders of the European Rabbinical Center (RCE), whose contacts with the Dutch government directly influenced the decision on the expected appointment, added: " Welcoming such an appointment but doing so with a heavy heart.Who would have believed that such a role would be necessary in a country like the Netherlands, whose very name is linked to tolerance.However, as attacks increase, the new national coordinator is expected to have full cooperation from Dutch Jews To live in peace and to live the length of their lives unhindered. "

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Chairman of the Association of European Jewish Organizations (EJA) whose communities span the length and breadth of the continent, concluded: “As part of our European program to tackle anti-Semitism, the EJA It.

Therefore, we applaud the government of the Netherlands - the last country to take this step.

The Netherlands is now joining a growing list of European countries with a national coordinator to fight anti-Semitism whose role is to eradicate the virus of anti-Semitism that has grown in parallel with the corona virus.

Too many Jewish communities across Europe were forced to shout and call for help.

There is a lot of work to be done, and the Association of Jewish Organizations in Europe is always ready to help implement proposals and best practices from other places in Europe that the Netherlands can implement, and that can help make a difference. "