The University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the Free University Amsterdam have announced they are taking extra measures to ensure the safety of Jewish and Israeli students and staff.
The move announced on August 30 was deemed necessary after intense protests from pro-Palestinian activists, with plans for future demonstrations prompting concerns for the safety of Israeli and Jewish students and staff, newspaper Het Parool reported.
At the UvA, a new QR code system will be introduced for access to certain events. Upon arrival, attendees must sign in to receive a unique QR code, which will serve as their entry pass.
Additionally, coats and bags will not be allowed into events, and instead must be stored in a cloakroom prior to entry.
“This is not always nice for attendees, as you have to queue longer. But unfortunately, we feel it is necessary,” a UvA spokesman said.
The spokesman also stressed in the daily NRC that the checks would only take place at “certain ceremonies and conferences,” which make up only a small part of university activities.
“We simply remain an open campus, as befits a university,” he said. “We don’t work with entrance gates for lecture halls.”
The Free University say it has also taken extra security measures to make sure Jewish students and staff felt safe but did not share what they were with the press.
In both universities, Jews had indicated they felt threatened by the pro-Palestine demonstrations, as well as by stickers, posters and comments on university premises, particularly those who wanted to show support for Israel.
During one demonstration in May, the UvA expressed regret at the situation facing Jewish students.
“There are students with a Jewish background who no longer feel safe attending the university and tell us that,” a spokesperson said.
“And we also want the pro-Gaza students to feel heard. That has not been achieved.”
Demonstrations held back in May in support of Gaza saw protesting students occupying parts of university premises, with police being forced to remove them.
Chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” were often heard, while some demonstrators wore masks. Property was also damaged.
Some staff within UvA were also reportedly involved.
On August 29, the Dutch National Anti-Semitism Co-ordinator (NCAB) warned that Jewish employees at several Dutch universities were increasingly concerned about their safety.
“The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict has unfortunately been accompanied by an increase in antisemitic incidents at our universities,” said co-ordinator Eddo Verdoner.
“Demonstrating is allowed but we must not close our eyes to anti-Semitism disguised as criticism of Israel.”
The opening of the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam was targeted by protestors amid sickening chants of anti-Semitic hatred such as “Get lost, cancer Jews”. https://t.co/dNb7t43UzV
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) March 11, 2024
