This chain of events leads us to announce the cancellation of our Kristallnacht remembrance moment tomorrow- which would take place in Amsterdam. Given the current volatile situation- the heavy presence of Zionist Israelis in the city with the intent of continuing acts of violence, we cannot in good faith, guarantee the minimum safety of our speakers and attendees, particularly those most vulnerable in our communities. It is deeply disappointing that this violence has disrupted Jewish community life in Amsterdam, preventing us from holding this important memorial event.

We believe that more appropriate police intervention against the initial disturbances by the Maccabi football fans combined with a clear stance from the city, mobilizing to disperse gatherings where violent racist, Islamophobic and homophobic things were being shouted (in the public space) could have prevented the subsequent escalation of violence.

The media portrayal of these events as an unprovoked antisemitic attack on peaceful football supporters does not reflect the full context. The visiting fans engaged in provocative behavior, destroying private property, intimidating passerby’s, carrying flares, gathering in the city center, and directing inflammatory racist and violent chants at locals. Many were recently discharged soldiers, active in the genocide in Gaza. Their conduct at the football match itself was also more than controversial, as they refused to observe the minute of silence for Valencia flood victims. One cannot engage in violent and disruptive actions and then cry ‘antisemitism’ to avoid accountability. Our identities do not exist to absolve our actions. We find this weaponization of Jewish safety incredibly alarming.

The city of Amsterdam deserves better. Erev Rav strongly condemns the Amsterdam police's handling of recent events involving football fans over two consecutive nights in the city. We are deeply concerned that instead of restraining groups who caused disturbances in the city - including tearing down Palestinian flags from private residences and engaging in racist chanting - the police allowed the situation to escalate into widespread street violence. It is troubling that arrests were selective, primarily targeting local Moroccan youth who confronted these groups, while Maccabi fans who initiated provocations faced no consequences.