This is what former politician Lodewijk Asscher stated in an opinion piece published today de Volkskrant stands.
It is a cartoon by Jos Collignon that appeared in the newspaper yesterday. It shows two people sitting together on the couch watching news about Gaza on TV. One of them holds a Palestinian flag and the TV shows the death toll in Gaza.
Next to them a long arm with a Star of David on the sleeve and a hand with a thick thumb. “Anti-Semitism resurgent everywhere,” reads a speech bubble. “Oh dear, sorry. Forgot to condemn Hamas first,” can also be read.
Watch the cartoon here:
“What we cannot – I repeat: cannot – use is the message that the small Jewish minority in the Netherlands and elsewhere makes up the threats, the name-calling, the online hatred themselves,” Asscher writes in the opinion piece.
“That they are identified with the Israeli government. It is a variation on Johan Derksen’s statement that ‘those Jews have made it a bit like that themselves’.”
‘Not burdened by anti-Semitism’
It bothers Asscher even more that the print was placed on the day that Germany’s Kristallnacht is commemorated. On the night of November 9 to 10, 1938, the Nazis attacked Jews throughout Germany and destroyed their buildings and property.
In his story, Asscher explains how anti-Semitism played a role in his life and how he tried not to be burdened by it. “I certainly don’t want to fall prey to the old fear,” he says.
The former politician states that due to these types of incidents and views, the conversation about ‘where should we go’ has suddenly returned to many kitchen tables. “So it would be nice if a firm voice of opposition could be heard: no hatred of Jews in the Netherlands. Never again is now.”
On X there is a heated reaction to Jos Collignon’s cartoon – and to Asscher’s reaction to it.
2023-11-10 04:15:00
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