Dutch police refuse to guard Jewish sites over ‘moral dilemmas,’ officers say
According to Michel Theeboom and Marcel de Weerd, both from the Jewish Police Network: “There are colleagues that no longer wish to protect Jewish targets or Jewish events.”
Two officers from the Dutch police force told Nieuw Israelisch Weekblad this week that they refused to protect Jewish targets.
Marcel de Weerd, representing the Jewish Police Network and Michel Theeboom expressed concern over the changes they saw in the force.
“There are some colleagues who do not want to defend Jewish targets or events. “They talk about moral dilemmas,” and I can see that a tendency is emerging to cave in. This would be the end of humanity. Theeboom expressed concern.
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De Weerd added to Theeboom’s claim, saying, “We see the leadership struggling with this.” We risk losing sight of what we stand for collectively, especially now with the conflict in Middle East. “We need to continue discussing this together.”
De Weerd claimed that he also encountered many younger officers who were unaware of the history of the country, including the role of the police in World War II.
De Telegraaf reported that the officers spoke to De Telegraaf and said some police members refused to serve food and drink at the Dutch National Holocaust Museum, Amsterdam.
Mireille Beentjes is the spokeswoman for the Dutch police. She told De Telegraaf that she heard officers expressing moral objections and admitted there are “no strict policy.”
When creating schedules, we take into consideration moral objections. “But if you are needed urgently, you’ll be sent out, whether you like it or not,” said she. “You must behave professionally.” Other people shouldn’t notice.
Beentjies claimed that officers were forced to guard events and institutes they would find morally objectionable under other circumstances.
Beentjes said that while it hurts when the Quran was burned, the perpetrators must be protected.
Janny Knol, the Dutch National Police Commissioner, told the Brussels Signal that “police officers are humans and have the rights to their opinions and emotions.” But he added, “But, when it comes down to safety of people, this is our number one priority.” We are always here to help. “That is the basis of our work as officers.
Nine Kooiman is the President of Dutch National Police Union. He reportedly said, “If we keep giving in, it will never end.” You are serving society, and you must be able distance yourself from personal feelings and considerations. “A professional attitude.”
Koen Simmers said that it was unacceptable for police officers to refuse to follow orders and tasks, including protecting Jewish, Christian or Islamic institutions, social events, demonstrations or other social gatherings.
The police are always there to protect everyone. Moral objections are often expressed and may even exist. But if you’re not willing to protect everyone then you chose the wrong career.
Geert W. Wilders, Dutch member of parliament, condemned the refusal of officers to guard Jewish institutions.
“Unacceptable. Wilders wrote that if an officer doesn’t want to guard Jewish items, it is cause for dismissal.
Dutch Jews: The dangers they face
According to the Center for Information and Documentation on Israel, antisemitic attacks in the Netherlands have increased significantly, just like elsewhere in the Diaspora. They are up over 800% since the Hamas attack on October 7.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators demonstrated in March outside the opening ceremony of a Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam. Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, had attended.
A former Hamas hostage was verbally abused in April by airport staff. Dutch Rabbi Aryeh Heintz reported to The Jerusalem Post in the same month that he had been violently assaulted during an antisemitic event in Utrecht.
Recently, Germany arrested an adolescent who was being trained to attack Dutch Jews during a school excursion to Holland.
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