Dutch politician urges Jews to go to friendlier countries

Australian News.Net
Tuesday 7th December, 2010

A former European Commissioner, Frits Bolkestein, has blamed anti-Semitism by Dutchmen of Moroccan descent for fears held by local Jews.

The prominent Dutch politician and ex-leader of Holland's ruling rightist VVD party has sparked an uproar by suggesting Orthodox Jews in Holland because should leave for countries that are more welcoming.

Speaking to French newspaper Le Monde, he said: "Jews have no future here, and should emigrate to the US or Israel."

In the recently released book "The Decay; Jews in a Rudderless Netherlands" by Manfred Gerstenfeld, Mr Bolkestein said Orthodox Jews in Holland had no future because of "the anti-Semitism among Dutchmen of Moroccan descent, whose numbers keep growing."

He added that an increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the Netherlands made feel the government could not fight anti-Semitism.

The Dutch parliament is expected to hold a special session to discuss Bolkestein's remarks which have also been taken up by Geert Wilders, the leader of the anti-Islam Party for Freedom, who has reacted by saying that "not Jews should emigrate, but anti-Semitic Moroccans."

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