Basketball fans who came to watch the Europa League match between Alba Berlin and Maccabi Tel Aviv welcomed the tight security imposed by Berlin police around the Uber Arena on Thursday (28/11).
A group of Jewish Maccabi fans said they felt safer because of the police presence, but were also sad that such precautions would still be necessary in 2024.
“I think these precautions are good. But at the same time, I’m also a little bit sad because in 2024, as a Jew, you still feel a little bit unsafe. And I think that’s good, so the security here is really good and they ask. They really show empathy. Which I think is generally really good,” said one supporter, Noah Gilkarov.
“But I still feel a bit sad that we still have anti-Semitic incidents today since the whole October 7 incident. I don’t care which side of the political divide you’re on, but to commit physical violence in Europe or here in general is unacceptable,” he said.
A large police deployment was made in the aftermath of the riots in Amsterdam earlier this month.
On November 7, a Europa League match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Dutch capital was followed by an all-night attack on Israeli football fans.
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said Maccabi Tel Aviv fans had been “attacked, harassed and pelted with fireworks” around the city, and that riot police had intervened to protect them and escort them to their hotel.
At least five people were hospitalized and a number of foreign leaders condemned the attack as anti-Semitic.
Pro-Palestinian activists said Maccabi supporters had armed themselves with sticks and stones earlier in the day and chanted provocative anti-Arab chants.