Dutch coalition nearly collapses after attack on Israeli fans
Photo: Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof (facebook.com/ministerpresident)
The Netherlands avoided a government crisis over the risk of coalition collapse following the resignation of Finance State Secretary Nora Achahbar. She decided to step down due to offensive comments about immigrants after the November 8 attack on Israeli football fans in Amsterdam, according to the Associated Press and Reuters.
What led to the threat of the Dutch government crisis
Last Wednesday, Dutch Member of Parliament Geert Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party, known for his sharp anti-Islam rhetoric, accused Moroccans of attacking Israeli football fans, claiming, "We saw Muslims hunting Jews." The government official added that this was allegedly being fueled by "Moroccans who want to destroy Jews."
Wilders also stated that those convicted of involvement in the attack on the Israeli fans should be deported if they hold dual citizenship.
Moroccan-born Nora Achahbar, from the centrist New Social Contract party, announced her resignation as Finance State Secretary on Friday in response to these comments from a government member.
She stated, "The polarizing manners have had such an impact on me that I could, or would, no longer fulfill my role as state secretary."
Risk of coalition breakdown
Following the resignation of the cabinet member on Friday, November 15, an emergency government meeting was convened in the Netherlands.
During the meeting, other government members from the centrist NSC party also threatened to resign.
However, later that evening, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced that his cabinet had reached an agreement, which led to only Achahbar’s resignation, without other officials stepping down.
Western media outlets report that this announcement means the four-party coalition in the Netherlands will survive the crisis.
Attack on football fans in Amsterdam
On November 7, a UEFA Europa League match between Amsterdam's Ajax and Tel Aviv's Maccabi occurred in the Dutch capital. After the game, Israeli fans who had come to Amsterdam to support their team were attacked by anti-Semitic groups. Read more about this in RBC-Ukraine's article.
This incident gained widespread attention and was condemned by top officials from various countries, including in Europe. Israel also planned a rescue operation involving the military, while local authorities in the Netherlands promised to punish those responsible.
Additionally, on November 13, the Dutch police detained dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters in Amsterdam who violated a ban on demonstrations imposed due to the violence against Israeli football fans last week.
