Israeli officials called the violent incidents in Netherlands against Israeli fans as a ‘pogrom.’
Violence broke out between Amsterdam residents and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans on November 10 at the onset of a European League football match.
Many critics opined that Israeli officials are misusing the term as violent incidents in the Netherlands took place after Israeli fans made racist slurs against Arab-origin people and the Palestinian flag.
According to videos on social media, many Israeli fans are heard saying ”Kill all the Arabs” prior to incidents targeting Maccabi fans.
What is a pogrom?
In its historical usage, a pogrom refers to a violent attack, often state-sanctioned or tolerated, targeting a specific ethnic, religious, or social group.
However, in the attacks from and against Israeli fans, there is no state-sanctioned or tolarated situation.
Plus, the attacks are not organized and collective. According to social media footage, it is observed that the attacks take place randomly in different locations.
Israeli officials, including Israel’s President Herzog, called the incident a ‘pogrom.’ He said, ”We see with horror this morning, the shocking images and videos that since October 7th, we had hoped never to see again: an antisemitic pogrom currently taking place against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and Israeli citizens in the heart of Amsterdam, Netherlands.”
In addition, using similar language, U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Deborah Lipstadt wrote on X, “Horrified by the attacks tonight in Amsterdam, which are terribly reminiscent of a classic pogrom.”
Historical instances of pogrom
Historically, pogroms have been characterized by mass killings, destruction of property, and forced displacement.
Below are some of the most infamous pogroms in history:
- Kishinev Pogrom (1903, 1905): In the Russian Empire, two waves of pogroms in Kishinev (now Chisinau, Moldova) targeted Jewish communities, leaving hundreds dead and thousands displaced.
- Odessa Pogroms (1821, 1859, 1871, 1905): These violent outbreaks in present-day Ukraine resulted in widespread looting and killing of Jews, fueled by growing antisemitism.
- Warsaw Pogrom (1881, 1905): Similar violence erupted in the Polish capital, part of the Russian Empire at the time, with significant casualties among Jewish residents.
- Lviv Pogroms (1941): Following Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union, local collaborators and German forces orchestrated pogroms in Lviv (then part of Poland, now Ukraine), resulting in the massacre of thousands of Jews.
- Jedwabne Pogrom (1941): In a small Polish town, local residents killed hundreds of their Jewish neighbors under Nazi influence.
- Baghdad Farhud (1941): This violent attack on the Jewish community in Iraq during World War II led to the deaths of nearly 200 Jews and left hundreds more injured.
- Kristallnacht (1938): Often called the “Night of Broken Glass,” this pogrom across Nazi Germany targeted Jewish businesses, synagogues, and homes, marking a significant escalation in the Holocaust.
- Anti-Tamil Pogroms (1983, Sri Lanka): Known as “Black July,” anti-Tamil riots resulted in the deaths of thousands and escalated the Sri Lankan Civil War.
In conclusion, while Israeli officials label the violent incidents in Amsterdam as a “pogrom,” historical context shows that pogroms typically involve state-sanctioned or organized violence against specific groups, resulting in mass killings and displacement. The Amsterdam incident, which lacks both state endorsement and organized attacks, appears to diverge from this historical definition. Critics suggest that the use of the term “pogrom” here may misrepresent the nature of the event, especially considering the complexity of the social tensions involved.
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