Jetten speaks at Kristallnacht commemoration: 'Violence against Jews is never far away'

Minister Rob Jetten addressed the National Kristallnacht commemoration at the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam, emphasizing that antisemitism remains a persistent threat. Reflecting on the 1938 pogroms, Jetten stated that the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel serves as proof that violence against Jewish people is never far away. He stressed that there is no excuse for threats against the Jewish community in the Netherlands and announced that the government is providing additional funding for the security of Jewish institutions to ensure Jewish life remains an integral part of Dutch society.

During the event, Chanan Hertzberger, chair of the Central Jewish Board, commended Jetten for rejecting demands made by protestors calling for a weapons embargo against Israel. Hertzberger criticized the normalization of anti-Israel rhetoric, noting that many demonstrations claim to target Zionism while actually marginalizing the majority of Dutch Jews who support Israel's right to exist. Meanwhile, an alternative gathering at the Jewish Resistance Monument highlighted the ongoing violence on the West Bank, urging for collective solidarity against normalized hate.