Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Sunday, September 28, 2026, that the diplomatic accreditation of Dutch officials based in the occupied West Bank would be revoked. This move comes after the Netherlands began enforcing sanctions on goods from Israeli settlements. The diplomats have seven days to hand over their Israeli-issued diplomatic papers. Saar stated that after this period, their diplomatic privileges and immunities granted by the State of Israel will expire.
The Dutch government started enforcing a ban on goods imported from Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights, the West Bank, and east Jerusalem. Israel conquered these territories during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and has occupied them ever since. Settlements built in these areas are considered illegal under international law. The ban applies to personal baggage as well as commercial shipments.
Dutch authorities announced earlier this month that they would begin enforcing the ban on settlement goods from September 22. As a result, passengers arriving from Israel at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport have had their luggage searched for banned goods. This move follows coordinated action by 12 Western countries, including Britain and France, to sanction goods from Israeli settlements at the start of the month.
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, expressed concern over the ban, posting on social media that passengers from the Netherlands flying back to Israel would have to check their souvenirs to ensure they are not from Judea/Samaria, which could result in a possible six-year prison term. Judea and Samaria is the biblical name for the West Bank still used by the Israeli government.
The West Bank is home to around three million Palestinians and approximately 500,000 Israeli settlers, excluding east Jerusalem. The Israeli government's decision to revoke the diplomatic accreditation of Dutch officials has escalated tensions between Israel and the Netherlands. The move is seen as a response to the Dutch government's decision to enforce sanctions on goods from Israeli settlements.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar emphasized that the decision to revoke the diplomatic accreditation of Dutch officials was a direct result of the Netherlands' actions. Saar's statement on social media indicated that the Dutch diplomats would lose their diplomatic privileges and immunities after the seven-day period.
The incident highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the international community's efforts to address the issue. The Dutch government's decision to enforce sanctions on goods from Israeli settlements reflects a broader international trend to hold Israel accountable for its actions in the occupied territories.
Key points
- Israel revokes diplomatic accreditation of Dutch officials in West Bank over sanctions on goods from Israeli settlements.
- Dutch government enforces ban on goods imported from Israeli settlements in Golan Heights, West Bank, and east Jerusalem.
- The move escalates tensions between Israel and the Netherlands, reflecting a broader international trend to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
