A troubling wave of repression is sweeping across Europe, disguised as a crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism. In November, the Dutch political establishment largely sided with Israeli football fans who instigated violence in Amsterdam, igniting tense clashes with local residents. This response not only involved a skewed narrative favoring the aggressors but also provided the ruling right-wing coalition in the Netherlands with a pretext to propose measures that disproportionately target the Muslim community.

Among the controversial proposals put forth are plans to revoke passports from dual nationals and temporary residency permits from migrants deemed "anti-Semitic." This label has increasingly been applied to almost any criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, blurring the lines between legitimate discourse and alleged anti-Semitism. Additional measures include denying public funding to organizations labeled as "anti-Semitic," designating them as terrorist entities, criminalizing the glorification of terrorism, and banning the Palestinian prisoner support network Samidoun.

Thus far, the Dutch government has implemented only one of these proposals—the establishment of a taskforce to combat anti-Semitism. The timeline for the other measures remains uncertain.

A closer examination of recent actions in Germany reveals a familiar trajectory. Over the past year, the German government has actively supported Israel while targeting its Muslim, refugee, and immigrant populations. In June, the German parliament enacted a new citizenship law that mandates an “anti-Semitism check” for applicants, disqualifying anyone deemed anti-Semitic or not aligned with Germany's commitment to unconditional support for Israel. This legislation relies on the controversial IHRA definition, which equates anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, meaning that expressing solidarity with Palestine on social media could jeopardize citizenship applications.

Dual citizens in Germany also face potential risks, as authorities retain the power to revoke citizenship up to ten years post-approval, although this process is cumbersome and largely untested. In October, lawmakers approved new immigration policies allowing the revocation of refugee status for individuals perceived to express anti-Semitism. 

Furthermore, a November resolution passed in the German parliament targets those critical of Israel, barring individuals and groups identified as anti-Semitic under the IHRA definition—including supporters of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement—from receiving public funding. This resolution, while non-binding, creates significant legal uncertainties and is expected to chill civil society, particularly organizations reliant on government support. As Nadija Samour, senior legal adviser for the European Legal Support Centre, points out, the resolution solidifies the use of migration law for persecution.

The repercussions of these trends are already being felt. Less than two weeks after the resolution, a German foundation cited it as justification for rescinding an architecture award from an artist who signed a letter condemning Israel. Since October 7, 2023, groups supporting Palestinian solidarity in Germany have faced an increase in repression, including police violence, surveillance, frozen bank accounts, and outright bans on demonstrations and events.

Human rights organizations are increasingly sounding the alarm about this authoritarian trajectory in Germany, warning that fundamental freedoms—including opinion, speech, assembly, and artistic expression—are under threat. A coalition of major civil society organizations has condemned the resolution for enabling severe violations of human rights and creating substantial legal uncertainty.  Aljazeera

^{Photo: Pro-Palestinian protesters face Dutch police during a banned demonstration in Amsterdam, Netherlands on November 10, 2024 [Esther Verkaik/Reuters]}