Jewish woman doorstepped and abused in spate of incidents

Photo: DutchNews.nl

A Jewish woman from Amstelveen, whose daughter is a conscript in the Israeli army, was doorstepped and threatened by two unknown women on Wednesday in one of a string of incidents targeting cultural events and private individuals with links to Israel.

One woman was filming while the other was shouting abuse, the woman told broadcaster NOS. “They shouted I am the mother of a killer and that my daughter is a child killer. It was incredibly intimidating,” she said.

The women were carrying flyers with the woman’s name, address and place of work on them, warning neighbours that “a child killer lives in this neighbourhood”. The flyers had been spread around the area.

The woman and her daughter’s personal data had been put online earlier which led to threats and people going to her place of work waving Palestinian flags.

She has reported the incidents to police and handed them the video footage from her video doorbell. “They are recognisable and I take it they will be found and convicted,” she said.

The incident comes in the wake of a disturbance by pro-Palestinian activists at a concert by singer Lenny Kuhr, whose grandson also serves in the Israeli army, claimed by Campaign group Palestine Action NL.

On Wednesday protesters gathered at the Balie cultural centre in Amsterdam which is showing three films by Israeli makers this week. The incidents have prompted the culture sector to call for a “safety protocol” in the face of “continuing polarisation”.

In a joint statement earlier this week, 13 of the 15 parties in parliament called for “a stand against hatred against Jews”. “Anti-semitism is on the rise again. This is not a demonstration, this is intimidation,” the statement said. Only Denk and Forum voor Democratie did not sign.

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