NEWS ANALYSIS: Recent Coverage Of The Events in Amsterdam Show That Lying In Support Of Israel is the Status Quo
Western media outlets uniformly misrepresented a soccer hooligan attack in Amsterdam, falsely labeling the victims as "antisemitic" attackers. This is emblematic of pro-Israel bias in western press.
It should come as no surprise, but mainstream news outlets are actively misrepresenting the violence in Amsterdam surrounding the November 5 Maccabi Tel Aviv-Amsterdam Axis soccer game. This coverage is in line with broader media trends of being deferential to Israel and Israeli narratives: Ignore the relevant context and portray Israel and its supporters as the sole victims.
Mondoweiss describes the sequence of events:
On November 5th, hundreds of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans – reportedly accompanied by Mossad agents – had flown into the city for a game against Ajax FC. It was reported, in the preceding days, that pro-Palestinian groups were planning a large protest outside the stadium against the presence of the Israeli football team. In the two days before the game, there were many reported incidents of violence and intimidation from the Israeli fans – including anti-Arab chants, attacking taxi drivers, ripping down Palestinian flags and attacking homes with any Palestinian imagery.
Emerging video evidence and testimonies from Amsterdam residents (here, here and here for instance) indicate that the initial violence came from Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, who also disrupted a moment of silence for the Valencia flood victims.
However mainstream outlets uniformly reported on the violence as antisemitic pogroms. Observe some of the headlines:
“‘Scooter Youths,’ Not Soccer Fans, Hunt Jews in Amsterdam”, (Wall Street Journal)
“Israeli soccer fans suffer ‘anti-Semitic attacks’ in violent Amsterdam incident: Officials”, (ABC News)
“Amsterdam bans protests after ‘antisemitic squads’ attack Israeli soccer fans”, (Reuters)
“Israeli Soccer Fans Targeted in ‘Antisemitic’ Attacks In Amsterdam”. (Newsweek) .
The New York Times, after going through four different versions of the headline for the story, later had to issue a major correction:
Mondoweiss notes of the media coverage:
Where there have been mentions of the actions of the Maccabi fans, the critical context of anti-Arab violence and chants is simply an additional detail versus the foundation of the counter-violence. The context of the violence and racism against Arabs is also downplayed, with less severe language being used to describe it.
Recently, the New York Times accidentally CC’d independent outlet Electronic Intifada on an email describing how the Times actually killed an investigation into the events when it became clear that the true narrative wouldn’t benefit Israel. The journalists wrote to a senior manager about “the planned moment-by-moment visual investigation,” saying “[u]nfortunately, that story was killed.”
The Power Of Language
The way Reuters wielded language is a perfect encapsulation of the double standards that media have when dealing with all things Israel. They made clear that verbal attacks fall into different categories depending on the recipients, kind of like people facing different rules in occupied land based on their ethnicity. The outlet reported that “[v]ideos on social media showed riot police in action, with some attackers shouting anti-Israeli slurs. Footage also showed Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters chanting anti-Arab slogans before Thursday evening's match.” (emphasis added)
This anti-Israeli “slur” is almost certainly “Zionist,” a term used to describe those who support the Israeli project. Equating that with antisemitism is clearly and purposefully meant to conflate backlash against the state of Israel with hate against the entire Jewish population.
And what “slogans” were the Maccabi hooligans chanting? “Death to Arabs,” and “Let the Israeli Army win, fuck the Arabs,” shared in this video from Middle East Eye. Maccabi fans then instigated attacks on a planned Palestinian solidarity protest, which Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema banned for three days starting November 8, an explicit move to silence those rightfully protesting the Israeli team’s presence while advertising it as a precautionary measure.
This biased use of language is an example of the methods the media use to stifle criticism of Israel’s continued genocidal campaign. It is expected that Israeli President Isaac Herzog would compare the events in Amsterdam to the October 7 attacks and even to pogroms against European Jews: Conflating Jewish people with Zionism is central to farming legitimacy for the colonial project that is Israel. Surrounding Western politicians and their mainstream outlets then uphold this sentiment, further manufacturing consent for an occupation that is by definition immoral and inhumane.
The account given by Owen Jones in his video “Sky News DELETES Truth About Israeli Football Hooligans On Rampage in Amsterdam—This is A Scandal” perfectly describes the backpedaling from truth used to engage in propaganda. The original reporting from Sky News was reviewed by the outlet and, in retrospect (from @SkyNews on X), “didn’t meet Sky News’ standards for balance and impartiality” (translation: it diverged too much from the standard rabidly Zionist position by also covering the racist chants and attacks on Palestinian solidarity protestors by Maccabi fanatics).
Media obfuscation on this story is all the more egregious because it came at a time when Israel was under fire for implementing the starvation and ethnic cleansing plan in Northern Gaza known as the “General’s Plan.” The plan saw aid reduced to its lowest levels in the war, as expulsions increased dramatically. At the time of the Amsterdam, Israel was nearing the deadline set by the United States to begin allowing more aid in (this deadline has since been ignored with no consequences). The headlines decrying the “pogroms” were seized on by Israel’s propagandists - including Netanyahu himself - in order to bolster in the public mind how important and vital Israel is to protect Jewish people, thus distracting from the actual crimes of the state that have continued for over a year.
This incident also highlights the importance of getting your news from alternative sources. Electronic Intifada, Mondoweiss, Democracy Now!, Zeteo News, Dropsite or Middle East Eye all have far better journalism and commentary. Even liberal Israeli newspapers like Haaretz are more critical of the Israeli governments than US papers. Mainstream outlets work hard to defend the Zionist project and its advocates.. They weaponize antisemitism to continue occupying, displacing, and murdering in the name of “protection.” It is our responsibility to recognize these media strategies in support of an apartheid regime and to actively oppose them. Considering the powerful voices from independent media is a first step towards recognizing the biases of media serving the hegemonic worldview.