“Quickly put an end to the squatting action at the Groningen Youth Synagogue,” according to council factions

The Groningen youth synagogue, Jewish cultural heritage, has been occupied by squatters since October last year. The examining magistrate recently rejected an eviction notice from the Public Prosecution Service, because it was not sufficiently clear that the then building owner would start work in the short term. The municipality of Groningen has now taken over the building, but the squatters have still not been removed, according to the council factions.

“The youth synagogue is an important part of Groningen history. After seven months, it is high time to give this building a new function, so that this squatting can be put to an end and this cultural heritage can be restored. It would be nice if, instead of the previous plans for housing construction, we could look at a social function, for example,” said CDA faction leader Jalt de Haan.

Based on photos circulating, the inquirers are concerned about the internal condition of the building. In addition, De Haan finds the organization of various pro-Palestine meetings in the squatted youth synagogue provocative and painful. During one of these meetings, an Israeli visitor was also removed from the building.

“It is painful, provocative and polarizing to organize pro-Palestine meetings again and again in this Jewish youth synagogue. People are free to protest, but not at any cost, at any time and in any place. After more than six months, we are once again calling on the municipal council to speed up. Remove these squatters and return this building to the community with a new social function,” says De Haan.

(Photo above: The Youth Synagogue, the low building at the back right of the traffic sign and the bicycles. Photo: Funda)