Binyomin, a non-Jewish politician, told me the day after the infamous PvdA-GL meeting that the PvdA-GL’s hatred of Israel affects not only the Jewish community, but also me, your non-Jewish Dutch fellow citizen. In 1948, the State of Israel was established as a refuge for Jews, survivors of the gas chambers. We, the Dutch, had allowed 102,000 fellow citizens to be gassed and therefore voted wholeheartedly and with full conviction in the United Nations for the establishment of a separate Jewish state. If Israel is now deprived of the ability to defend itself, if we allow ballistic missiles to carry out their murderous work unhindered, then the way is open for the completion of the Endlösung, and I refuse to cooperate in that.
That disgraceful anti-Israel meeting is now a few days behind us, and a number of our so-called friends have shown their true colours. What should we do about this? I have no idea. I don’t want to dwell on it too much, but prefer to focus my thoughts on a number of wonderful experiences.
Today, I was first in Maastricht, where Ellen van Praagh (chair of the Central Committee of the NIK), Ernst Reus (chair of the Jewish Community of Limburg) and myself had a good conversation with the chair of the University, Rianne Letschert. Our aim was to express our concern about the safety of Jewish students and staff. It was a warm conversation and, more importantly, she understood our concern and promised to do everything in her power to make Jewish staff and students feel safe. I have every confidence in her.
From Maastricht, we drove at (too) high speed to Urk for the big and grand JNF Experience, whose motto was: Strong Together for Israel. I was asked to conduct the raffle for tickets to Israel and say the prayer for the State of Israel and its soldiers, after which the Hatikwa was sung by the more than three hundred people present. It was a magnificent celebration, what an atmosphere, what a release of tension. Afterwards, I was given the opportunity to thank the mayor and aldermen of Urk via a film recording for the pro-Israel motion they had adopted, as the only municipality in the Netherlands, where most municipalities disgraced themselves with anti-Israel motions. For the Amsterdam residents among my diary readers, who are usually not so brilliant at geography: Urk and Maastricht are a little further apart than Buitenveldert and Amstelveen.
On Thursday afternoon, Blouma and I attended a drinks party for the staff of cvandaag. Cvandaag is the largest Christian website in our country and, as they regularly publish my diary, our presence was a matter of course. In fact, we felt more than welcome! They had arranged kosher meals especially for us. The warmth we felt there was amazing. Nothing but support for Israel, no anti-Semitism. Very special!
And then, on Friday afternoon, well before the start of Shabbat: SGP! Let me explain. I had heard that the SGP was holding a study day or something similar in Nijkerk, in the building of Christians for Israel. I had approached Chris Stoffer, the party leader, to ask if I could also come and thank the SGP leaders for their unwavering support for Israel. He thought it was a good idea and was willing to give me five minutes of his fifteen-minute speaking time. As expected, those five minutes turned into fifteen. Nevertheless, Chris Stoffer was also allowed to speak. And then we took a group photo.
On Sunday, I was asked to fill in for Rabbi Katz, who was stuck in Israel, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. He was supposed to give a lecture at the synagogue in Apeldoorn. I was allowed to fill in for him. His topic: Shavuot – the Feast of Weeks. And oh yes, we also welcomed a couple who have decided to get married in a Jewish ceremony.
All in all, I have experienced a lot of warmth and support over the last few days, and I hope and pray that there will finally be shalom for all the inhabitants of Your earth, and not just for Israel. Because, Mr Timmermans, think a little less about Israel and Gaza and a little more about the much bigger trouble spots in Sudan, Syria, etc., etc., etc., or about the oppression of women in large parts of the world. Think about the treatment of fellow human beings with a different sexual orientation. Or would you rather not import problems from elsewhere? I fully understand that, but then leave Gaza where it is.
Got up at five o’clock this morning, travelled almost six hundred kilometres today, and now it’s midnight and I’ve just received a WhatsApp message asking if I’m open to a conversation. Unfortunately… I’m too tired.
