Thirteen of the fifteen parties in the House of Representatives ask in a joint statement to "stand up" against hatred of Jews. The parties say they see "with horror" that hatred of Jews is returning in places "where everyone should be able to gather safely and freely".
"Jewish hatred is flaring up again. This is not demonstrating, this is intimidating," the thirteen party leaders write. Only Denk and Forum for Democracy have not signed the statement.
The politicians refer to last weekend , when pro-Palestinian activists in Waalwijk disrupted a performance by Lenny Kuhr. They came on stage and shouted, among other things, that the Jewish Kuhr is a murderer and a terrorist.
According to the thirteen faction leaders, this is not an incident. "A line has been crossed here. A line that we hoped would never be crossed again in our country." According to them, the safety and freedom of Jewish Dutch people is at stake. "The freedom to come together, to commemorate, to celebrate, to express yourself culturally - to live."
Earlier today, the House of Representatives called on the cabinet to speak out strongly against the increasing expressions of anti-Semitism in society, and especially in the cultural sector.
The disruption of the concert is "exemplary of the rising hatred of Jews," said BBB MP Van Zanten. “The stage should never be taken away from Jewish artists.” Like many other MPs, she wanted to know what the government will do about it.
Outgoing State Secretary Gräper promised that she will discuss the matter in the Council of Ministers on Thursday. It only concerns the cultural sector, but it also concerns, for example, public order, which is what the Minister of Justice is responsible for. She expects the cabinet to issue a statement against anti-Semitism on Thursday.
'Weak response Gräper' Many MPs thought that was a weak response. "You condemn it, but you don't get any further. I hear very little action," said NSC MP Van Vroonhoven. The State Secretary is in discussions with the sector, but wondered what she can do beyond helping theaters with better security, as GroenLinks-PvdA suggested. "It is not possible to prevent these types of incidents."
"Should I close theaters? That is not the answer either," said Gräper. According to her, it is an important achievement that we have an 'open' cultural sector where dialogue takes place. "There is no possibility for dialogue with anti-Semites, State Secretary," responded VVD MP Ellian. He believes that the government must guarantee that all performances with Jewish artists can continue at all times.
March of Civilization? "Speak out loudly," said Christian Union faction leader Bikker. She addressed not only the cabinet, but also the cultural sector itself. According to her, it is "terrifyingly quiet" there. Many parties agreed with her.
BBB member Van Zanten referred to the so-called March of Civilization that the sector organized in 2011 when cuts threatened. "Where is that march now?". She thought that Gräper should address the sector about this. According to the State Secretary, it is more powerful if such a signal is organized by the sector itself.
Denk MP Ergin wanted to know how Gräper came to the conclusion that Kuhr was the victim of anti-Semitism. The people who disrupted the concert have said they did so not because of her Jewishness, but because of her support for Israeli action in Gaza.
But according to the State Secretary, the consequence of the disruption may be that performances by Jewish artists such as Lenny Kuhr are canceled for fear of disturbances. Ticket sales for her other concerts have already been halted. "Then she is limited in her artistry because of her Jewishness and that is anti-Semitism."
"Since October 7, I have the feeling that the bear is loose," Kuhr said yesterday about her disrupted concert.
