The issue was uncovered late last month by the Dutch-Jewish outlet NIW. Michel Thiebaum, chairman of an organization of Dutch-Jewish police officers, told NIW: “Some colleagues don’t want to protect Jewish locations or events. They cite ‘moral dilemmas’ and I’m seeing a tendency to give in [to that], which would be the beginning of the end. I’m really worried about that.”
Earlier this month, two Dutch lawmakers, Ulysse Ellian and Ingrid Michon from the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, sent an urgent query to Justice and Security Minister David van Weel, who’s also a member of the party, asking how her office is responding to ensure that the police are working to protect everyone, including Dutch Jews.
“Police officers naturally have their own opinions and emotions. That’s fine. But if people require our help or protection, they can count on us. Always. We are for everyone. That’s the basis of police work.” Knol said, but didn’t address the possibility of sanctions against officers who choose or ask to stop protecting Jews.
Some Dutch Jews carry bitter memories of the Dutch police’s extensive collaboration with the Nazi regime during the Holocaust, when 75% of the local Jewish population was murdered — the highest percentage of Jewish victims in any Western European country at the time.
Criticism is also heard in the Netherlands about the police’s perceived leniency on the matter. “Soon they may also have ‘moral dilemmas’ when they need to protect Christian churches or anti-Islamic party ministers,” read some posts in various Dutch forums.
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