This week I attended two pro-Israel events and participated in a meeting about antisemitism in the Netherlands and the role politics plays in addressing it. After these experiences, one question kept returning to my mind: Are we dealing with politics, or are we dealing with real people?

The first event was a delayed celebration of Israel’s Independence Day hosted by the Israeli Embassy in The Hague. An embassy is not merely an office building. In many ways it represents the territory, interests, and voice of the country it serves. The Israeli Embassy exists to represent Israel in the Netherlands and to maintain relations between the two nations. When disagreements arise, governments communicate through ambassadors. The ambassador explains the policies and actions of Israel to the Dutch government, and vice versa.

As far as I know, Israel is still an ally of the Netherlands. Yet I cannot ignore the changing atmosphere. More and more, it seems that if you are not part of a certain political narrative, your concerns are considered less important. And whenever the name Israel is connected to an event, it often faces criticism, resistance, or even cancellation, regardless of how valuable or significant that event may be.

I would have expected to see the Dutch prime minister present at such an occasion, even if only to shake hands with the most important representative of Israel in the Netherlands, the ambassador. Of course, that did not happen. There were two or three politicians known for their support of Israel, and I appreciate their presence. Still, the respect and recognition that Israel deserves are rarely given. Israel is a democratic ally, a technological powerhouse, and a nation that has contributed enormously to innovation, medicine,........

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