1 hurt at protest at Israel celebration in Katwijk; Anti-Israel graffiti in A'dam park
A clash between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators at an Israeli independence celebration in Katwijk left one person hurt and two people in custody. Anti-Israel slogans were also found spray-painted on statues in Amsterdam’s Oosterpark.
The organization Christians for Israel held a celebration of Israeli independence in the Nieuwe Kerk in Katwijk on Wednesday, Omroep West reported. Several dozen pro-Palestine protesters held a registered demonstration about 30 meters from the church.
Counter-demonstrators, some wearing balaclavas, attacked the pro-Palestine protesters, kicking and punching them, the broadcaster wrote. One person sustained an injury to the face. The police intervened when protesters started throwing stones and beer bottles at officers, the police said. The mayor issued an emergency order.
The police led the pro-Palestine protesters away at around 9:00 p.m. The counter-demonstrators left a short time later. The police reported arresting two people for insults and public violence.
Amsterdam vandalism
In Amsterdam’s Oosterpark, vandals spraypainted several statues with anti-Israel slogans, Jan-Bert Vroege (D66), the daily administrator for Amsterdam’s Oost district, said on X on Wednesday. He attached a photo, showing a statue with the texts “Zionism = terrorism” and “Israel = baby killers” in red paint. According to Parool, the texts “Real Jews hate Israel” and “Israel = shit” were also painted on the wall of a public toilet.
Vroege said that the municipality was removing the texts and considering whether to press charges. “I personally think that we should, apart from the slogans that are written on them. Defacing statues alone is punishable,” he wrote on X.
