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Ajax Amsterdam

Ajax Amsterdam is a football team with a proud heritage. A team that was popularly identified with the Jewish community.

When I lived in Amsterdam (in the 1980's) the "Golan Shawarma" was my local fast food joint in Staatsliedenbuurt, the neighbourhood I lived in. The flag of Israel was proudly displayed behind the counter, not as I first assumed as support for the Zionist state but for Ajax the football team.

The guy who owned the place was Turkish and held no truck for the Zionist state. He loved his football though. 

As one walked round the city in these times, many bars and houses would display an Israeli flag to indicate their partially to Ajax. In my last  few brief visits to the city, things are different.

It's rare now to see an Israeli flag. Even the Ajax Ultras the self-styled "Super-Jews" (most of whom are not Jewish) seldom fly the flag any more.

In November 2024 Ajax hosted Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europe League. In the ensuing riots the Maccabi fans attacked locals, tore down Palestinian flags and were then set upon by annoyed residents.  

The most apt phrase was that they "fucked around and found out". Did they think they were still in Israel and and entitled to impunity? They found out the hard way.  

Then of course they played the victim card.  These are young Israeli men.  All will have served in the IDF. Many will still do so.  There is blood on their hands. 

In Amsterdam their opponents weren't kids though.  


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