Pro-Palestinian protests disrupt speeches by Schoof and Brekelmans at Dutch universities
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted speeches by caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof and caretaker Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans on Monday and forced the University of Amsterdam to shut down its opening ceremony, as protests against Dutch academic ties with Israel spread across universities, AD reported.
In Enschede, Schoof’s address at the University of Twente was twice interrupted. After the first disruption, organizers offered demonstrators speaking time following his remarks, but when they again broke in, security removed them under light force, according to an ANP photographer. Schoof then resumed his speech. In Eindhoven, Brekelmans faced interruptions during his remarks at Eindhoven University of Technology.
The most serious disruption occurred in Amsterdam, where the University of Amsterdam (UvA) cut its event short after students accused the institution of working with 13 Israeli organizations.
The ceremony, held in the Aula of the Lutheran Church on the Singel, began with a choir performance followed by rector magnificus Peter-Paul Verbeek’s address to several hundred attendees. Verbeek emphasized the university must be safe for all communities. “That is why today I want to say to everyone, and especially to our Jewish community: you belong here, this is also your home,” he said.
Moments later, five students stood to speak about Gaza. One, given the microphone, looked directly at Verbeek and asked how he could talk about safety while “you maintain ties with organizations that finance genocide.” Demonstrators received applause from parts of the audience, which also joined in chants of “free free Palestine.” Red flyers were reportedly thrown from the balcony.
Verbeek asked the group to leave, but when they refused, organizers terminated the event and moved to the planned reception at the Maagdenhuis.
