Israeli expats protest Lieberman visit to Holland
Dutch ex-Israeli protesterss from a group "critical of Israel" plan to confront the foreign minister.
By Cnaan Liphshiz Tags: Jewish World Israel news Avigdor LiebermanThe scheduled arrival of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in the Netherlands Wednesday has touched off a rare display of discord between the local Jewish community and some Israelis living there. Holland has one of the largest Israeli communities in Europe.
A few dozen Dutch ex-Israelis from a group that says it is "critical of Israel" plan to confront Lieberman and his hosts from Holland's largest Zionist group, the Center for Information and Documentation on Israel.
They intend to picket outside Amsterdam's Golden Tulip Apollo Hotel, where Lieberman is slated to address dozens of CIDI members, citing his "racist motives" and "hate-mongering." Lieberman says his controversial policies on Israeli Arabs, which include support for a mandatory pledge of allegiance, are not racist.
The protest by gate48 is directed against CIDI's hospitality and the "uncritical" manner in which he will be received by the Dutch government, board member Erella Grassiani says.
In response CIDI founder Ronny Naftaniel noted that Lieberman was democratically elected, adding that instead of protesting, "we would wish that gate48 members would exercise their democratic rights in Israel itself." Naftaniel also said that hosting Lieberman does not constitute agreement with his policies or viewpoints.
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Dear Jochai, Good news: yesterday I was present at the evening demonstration in Amsterdam, and I was so deeply happy to see Jews and Arabs demonstrating side by side against Lieberman! There were even representatives of Gate48, a Dutch movement for Israeli's-in-Holland that were keeping demonstration boards with texts in Hebrew! So thank God Jews can be safely and openly themselves in The Netherlands
Hey Richard, Well, here another Dutch speaking: I am definitely NOT being proud of such a terrible politician being hosted in our country. We are NOT in need of the Israeli brother from Geert Wilders; one is already far too much!
A lot of Israelis have become ex-Israelis and they have a right to speak out whether or not you or anyone else likes it. Maybe they left because they got fed up with Israeli policies and didn't want to be part of an occupying country any more. Who better than ex-Israelis to speak out? You wouldn't mind if an ex-Saudi or ex-Iranian spoke out. Why not give the same right to ex-Israelis?
They are not.They "plan to confront Lieberman and his hosts" fine but to demand anything from Israel or Liberman they have no right whatsoever.That's my point. Regards.
[sarcasm on] Yeah. Let's all protest the Dutch and tell them that they are not allowed to protest Lieberman's reception by CIDI and Dutch Govt? [sarcasm off]
erella baby, there is no bad pulicity, there is only good one :)
Peter, They are complaining about the "uncritical manner in which he will be received by the Dutch Govt". You don't think they should be able to do this because they are Ex-Israelis and Holland is your country??? Not sure I understand your thought process here?
Look, I'm not entirely sure wether one is aware that the protesting group Gate 48 is one who thought it a good idea to press the Dutch government to talk with Hamas(!) about being nice, behaving in accordance with old peace agreements, not shooting rocket and bullets... And you are complaining they are (for the time being) out of Israel? Dutch government said:"No way" BTW No Muslim terrorist would be so stoooopid to attack these "useful idiots". On the other hand, though Israel is getting quite often a good press here in the Netherlands, that is not the case with Avigdor Lieberman,... As such the protest is helping to keep Israel's positive image.
CIDI staged protests in 2000 when the party (FPÖ) of Jörg Haider joined the Austrian government after an electoral victory. Those protests were directed against the FPÖ joining the Austrian government. CIDI marked the FPÖ of Haider as ultra right and feared that other European extreme right parties would join the governments of their countries. CIDI didn't use the argument that the FPÖ was democratically elected, then. CIDI is a zionist organisation supporting Israel and not capable of criticising the Israeli government in a fundamental way even when racist parties are part of the Israeli government. CIDI has never received Jörg Haider or any other member of the FPÖ, but it will receive Lieberman. CIDI is not consistent regarding racist, rightist parties.
People move to different places because of different reasons. Almost every Israeli who moves abroad does so because of financial considerations. If they value the Euro more than they value living in Israel, that's their choice. And now that they have made their choice, they can deal with the ramifications of not being a part of our society- and voting for Meretz. If the issue was that important to them then they wouldn't leave. Obviously, it isn't as important to them as their own finances.
I myself come from Holland..my wife is sabra..we returned to Israel...Israelis in Holland are there for the money..just as they are in the USA...chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow...for the same amount of cash they have to work 2 jobs here. I know a lot of Israelis who at the end all returned to the motherland...only a few remain in diaspora
Maybe you should be asking the question of what's so wrong with Israel that would make these people move back to Holland,
By leaving they became diaspora Jews like those who are welcoming Lieberman. They are entitled to their opinion too, aren't they?
Jews and Israelis, cannot demonstrate in Amsterdam. they would be an easy target for the local Moslims Even praying in the synagogues has its risks. wearing a kipa is out of the question.
I'm proud on our government that appears not to be scared of the lef wingers/ muslim movements. I'm proud on Lieberman that he is visiting us. Fantastic!
You dont take the risks,you don't pay taxes,you dont tell Israelis what to do. Why not complain about your throat cutting as censorship?
They should live their yored lives in their newfound homelands, shut up, and leave Israeli policy for those who remain here. They made their choice by leaving.