(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 8 - The president of the Union of Jewish Communities on Friday expressed deep concern following a series of attacks in the centre of Amsterdam on Thursday night against Israeli football fans describing them as a "violent persecution".
    Israeli football fans faced a series of attacks in the centre of Amsterdam with riot police having to intervene several times to protect supporters of the Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv who had travelled to the Dutch capital for a Europa League match against Ajax.
    "Faced with the shocking images of what happened last night in Amsterdam of violent persecution targeting Israeli fans, carried out by pro-Pal haters and Islamist radicals, with inactive security forces, the Union of Italian Jewish Communities expresses a feeling of grave concern and alert and calls on European institutions, firstly, and on Italian ones to strengthen laws aimed at eradicating violence generated by religious fundamentalism and the abuse of fundamental freedoms", said Di Segni.
    Meanwhile in Italy security measures were at the highest level ahead of a basketball match between Virtus Bologna and Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Unipol Arena in Casalecchio di Reno near Bologna.
    And the Union of Young Italian Jews told ANSA they were extremely concerned by the attacks in Amsterdam and asked for "attention to preventio"n" and to guarantee the "utmost security" iat matches scheduled to take place with the participation of Israeli teams", including Friday's match in Bologna. (ANSA).