‘It’s not the first time that they (Israelis) come to a land that’s not theirs and start some shit. So thank you for taking care of business.’
Palestinian rapper Saint Levant praised the recent violent antisemitic attacks targeting Israelis in Amsterdam during his performance in the Dutch city last week, before further taunting pro-Israel supporters by posting on social media more brazen applause for the violence that has been described as a “pogrom” targeting Jews.
The rapper, whose real name is Marwan Abdelhamid, performed on Nov. 12 at the concert hall and club Paradiso Amsterdam. His sold-out concert took place a few days after fans of the Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv were run over by cars, beat up, and chased with knives, rocks, and sticks in Amsterdam by Arab and Muslim gangs, who also shouted anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian slogans. The violence took place during the early hours of Nov. 8 following a soccer match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and their Dutch rivals Ajax.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon called the violence a “pogrom,” while Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said the “hit-and-run” antisemitic attacks were a “poisonous cocktail” of antisemitism and hooligan actions. On the social media platform Telegram, users talked about going on a “Jew hunt,” Halsema said.