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Lieberman calls on Europe Jews to immigrate to Israel

November 9, 2024 at 11:37 am

Former Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman speaks during a press conference at the Israeli Parliament on 14 November 2018 in Jerusalem [Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images]

Former Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman called on Jews in Europe to immigrate to Israel on Friday.

The call came after clashes in the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, between Israelis and residents amid riots by fans of the Maccabi Tel Aviv football team.

Lieberman, the leader of the right-wing opposition party Yisrael Beiteinu, posted on X: “I urge the Jews of Europe not to wait, as many did on the eve of the Holocaust. Leave everything and come home to Israel.”

The Jewish population in Europe is estimated at 1.4 million, which the Tel Aviv government is trying to convince to immigrate to Israel.

Since Friday morning, Israeli officials have tried to liken the clashes between Israelis and residents in Amsterdam to the “Holocaust” and a massacre.

According to Israeli media, the clashes followed racist and contemptible chants by Israelis against Arabs, tearing down Palestinian flags from balconies and an attack on a taxi driver, all resulting in the injury of between ten and 20 Israelis.

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The Israeli Army Radio quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying that there were no missing Israelis in Amsterdam.

Earlier on Friday, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the anti-Arab chants by Israelis and the attack on Palestinian flags in Amsterdam.

In a statement received by Anadolu Agency, the ministry stated: “We condemn the anti-Arab chants and the barbaric acts carried out by fans of one of the racist Israeli football clubs in the Dutch capital Amsterdam for three consecutive days.”

The Foreign Ministry called on the Dutch government to investigate the rioters and to protect Palestinians and Arabs from the Israeli settlers and Israeli soldiers who went to the Netherlands to express their racist ideas and crimes in European capitals, stressing its rejection of violence in all its forms.

It warned against the escalation of racist rhetoric and practices that these racist groups are trying to pass on, as it poses hostility to the Palestinian identity and symbols.

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