Harry van Bommel
Encyclopedia
Henricus van Bommel (born June 24, 1962 in Helmond
) is a Dutch
politician
, anti-globalization activist
and former educator. As a member of the Socialist Party
(Socialistische Partij) he has been an MP since May 19, 1998. He focuses on matters of foreign affairs
and the European Union
.
, he grew up in Heino, which is a village in the province of Overijssel
. Van Bommel was a teacher of Dutch
and English
before entering politics, having attended the University of Amsterdam to study political science
.
He joined the Socialist Party in 1986, eventually joining its executive committee overseeing students, where he remained until 1994. In that year, he was elected to the Amsterdam City Council, having been elected to the Amsterdam East district council in 1990.
In May 1998, Van Bommel became a member of the Dutch House of Representatives for the Socialist Party. Van Bommel's work as a Socialist Party member has, since 1994, included focus on educational policy and on international affairs. In the former capacity, he contributed to the "Alles Kids?" report on diminishing opportunities for youth.
on January 3, 2009 in Amsterdam part in a demonstration against the actions of Israel, chanding the slogan "Intifada
, Intifada, Palestine free". This led to criticism of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
(VVD), the Party for Freedom
(PVV) and the Centre Information and Documentation Israel (CIDI), which suggested that this was a call to violence. Also, SP leader Agnes Kant
said: "I would not have done, because it leads to misunderstandings." Van Bommel denied that he wanted to incite violence. According to him intifada can be understood as "civil disobedience". The incident was reason for the Rabbi Raphael Evers
of the "Dutch Israelite Religious Community" (Nederlands Israëlitisch Kerkgenootschap - NIK
) to require that van Bommel would not be present at the Auschwitz Memorial in Amsterdam on January 25. The Dutch Auschwitz Committee - the organizer of the meeting - said, however, that Van Bommel was welcome and called the case "a bloated affair." But eventually, Van Bommel let to known that he would not be present because he didn't wanted "that commotion about his presence at the expense of the actual memorial".
On January 3, 2009 Van Bommel was videotaped at a public rally calling for an intifada against Israel. Radio Netherlands Worldwide reported that the event launched widespread criticism. He was accused of "incitement to hate, violence and discrimination against Jews" in a complaint to the Dutch Ministry of Justice by prominent attorney, and the lawyer of the Dutch politician Geert Wilders
in his ongoing trial
(2011), Bram Moskowicz
. According to Ha'aretz, in an online video Van Bommel's voice can be heard while protesters chant "Hamas, Hamas, send the Jews to the gas." Van Bommel told Haaretz he "did not hear the calls," and would "have left had he heard them."
Helmond
Helmond is a municipality and a city in the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands.- Quarters and Neighbourhoods :*Quarter 11 Inner City**Neighbourhood 0 Centrum**Neighbourhood 2 Leonardus**Neighbourhood 3 Heipoort...
) is a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, anti-globalization activist
Anti-globalization movement
The anti-globalization movement, or counter-globalisation movement, is critical of the globalization of corporate capitalism. The movement is also commonly referred to as the global justice movement, alter-globalization movement, anti-globalist movement, anti-corporate globalization movement, or...
and former educator. As a member of the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Netherlands)
The Socialist Party is a democratic socialist political party in the Netherlands. After the 2006 general election, the Socialist Party became one of the major parties of the Netherlands with 25 seats of 150, an increase of 16 seats. The party was in opposition against the fourth Balkenende cabinet...
(Socialistische Partij) he has been an MP since May 19, 1998. He focuses on matters of foreign affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Biography
Born in the province of North BrabantNorth Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
, he grew up in Heino, which is a village in the province of Overijssel
Overijssel
Overijssel is a province of the Netherlands in the central eastern part of the country. The region has a NUTS classification of NL21. The province's name means "Lands across river IJssel". The capital city of Overijssel is Zwolle and the largest city is Enschede...
. Van Bommel was a teacher of Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
before entering politics, having attended the University of Amsterdam to study political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
.
He joined the Socialist Party in 1986, eventually joining its executive committee overseeing students, where he remained until 1994. In that year, he was elected to the Amsterdam City Council, having been elected to the Amsterdam East district council in 1990.
In May 1998, Van Bommel became a member of the Dutch House of Representatives for the Socialist Party. Van Bommel's work as a Socialist Party member has, since 1994, included focus on educational policy and on international affairs. In the former capacity, he contributed to the "Alles Kids?" report on diminishing opportunities for youth.
Gaza demonstration 2009
Following the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip late 2008-early 2009, took the SP MPs Van Bommel and Sadet KarabulutSadet Karabulut
Sadet Karabulut is a Dutch politician and formercivil servant and trade unionist of Kurdish-Turkish descent. As a member of the Socialist Party she has been an MP since November 30, 2006. From January 11 till April 14, 2011 she was on maternity leave and therefore replaced by Rik Janssen...
on January 3, 2009 in Amsterdam part in a demonstration against the actions of Israel, chanding the slogan "Intifada
Intifada
Intifada is an Arabic word which literally means "shaking off", though it is usually translated into English as "uprising" or "resistance" or "rebellion". , not to be confused with the Arabic plural ...
, Intifada, Palestine free". This led to criticism of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
(VVD), the Party for Freedom
Party for Freedom
The Party for Freedom is a Dutch right-wing political party. Founded in 2005 as the successor to Geert Wilders' one-man party in the House of Representatives, it won nine seats in the 2006 general election, making it the fifth largest party in parliament, and third largest opposition party. It...
(PVV) and the Centre Information and Documentation Israel (CIDI), which suggested that this was a call to violence. Also, SP leader Agnes Kant
Agnes Kant
Agnes Catharina Kant is a retired Dutch politician of the Socialist Party. She was the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives from June 20, 2008 until March 4, 2010. Since 1998, she has been a member of the House of Representatives. In June 2008, she became the parliamentary leader...
said: "I would not have done, because it leads to misunderstandings." Van Bommel denied that he wanted to incite violence. According to him intifada can be understood as "civil disobedience". The incident was reason for the Rabbi Raphael Evers
Raphael Evers
Raphael Evers is the Rabbi of Rotterdam and an authoritative Jewish spokesman in the Netherlands.-Family:Evers grew up in Amsterdam-West. His father was Hans Evers. His mother, Bloeme Evers-Emden , is a Dutch Jew who was deported from Westerbork to Auschwitz in September 1944 on the same train as...
of the "Dutch Israelite Religious Community" (Nederlands Israëlitisch Kerkgenootschap - NIK
Nederlands Israëlitisch Kerkgenootschap
The Nederlands-Israëlitisch Kerkgenootschap is the umbrella organisation for most Jewish communities in the Netherlands, and is Orthodox in nature, while to be described as traditional in outlook. The expression Orthodox, is for the Dutch situation at least, of a later date than the existence of...
) to require that van Bommel would not be present at the Auschwitz Memorial in Amsterdam on January 25. The Dutch Auschwitz Committee - the organizer of the meeting - said, however, that Van Bommel was welcome and called the case "a bloated affair." But eventually, Van Bommel let to known that he would not be present because he didn't wanted "that commotion about his presence at the expense of the actual memorial".
On January 3, 2009 Van Bommel was videotaped at a public rally calling for an intifada against Israel. Radio Netherlands Worldwide reported that the event launched widespread criticism. He was accused of "incitement to hate, violence and discrimination against Jews" in a complaint to the Dutch Ministry of Justice by prominent attorney, and the lawyer of the Dutch politician Geert Wilders
Geert Wilders
Geert Wilders is a Dutch right-wing politician and leader of the Party for Freedom , the third-largest political party in the Netherlands. He is the Parliamentary group leader of his party in the Dutch House of Representatives...
in his ongoing trial
Trial of Geert Wilders
A trial of Dutch politician Geert Wilders took place in the Netherlands in 2010–2011. Wilders was accused of criminally insulting religious and ethnic groups and inciting hatred and discrimination...
(2011), Bram Moskowicz
Bram Moszkowicz
Abraham Maarten Moszkowicz is a Dutch lawyer. Bram Moszkowicz is the son of Berthe Bessant and lawyer Max Moszkowicz...
. According to Ha'aretz, in an online video Van Bommel's voice can be heard while protesters chant "Hamas, Hamas, send the Jews to the gas." Van Bommel told Haaretz he "did not hear the calls," and would "have left had he heard them."