Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, announced on Sunday 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. Saar stated that the diplomats have seven days to hand over their Israeli-issued diplomatic papers, after which their diplomatic privileges and immunities 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 has occupied these territories since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. The settlements built in these areas are considered illegal under international law. The ban applies to both personal baggage and 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 has sparked concern among some Israeli settlers and supporters.
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, expressed concern about the ban, posting on social media that passengers from the Netherlands flying back to Israel would have to check their souvenirs to ensure they aren't from the West Bank, which could result in a six-year prison term. The West Bank is also referred to as Judea and Samaria by the Israeli government.
The Dutch ban is part of a coordinated action by 12 Western countries, including Britain and France, to sanction goods from Israeli settlements. This move has strained relations between Israel and the Netherlands. Israel's decision to revoke the diplomatic status of Dutch officials is a direct response to the Dutch government's actions.
The occupied West Bank is home to around three million Palestinians and approximately 500,000 Israeli settlers, excluding east Jerusalem. The settlements have been a contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with many countries considering them illegal under international law.
The revocation of diplomatic status for Dutch officials is the latest development in the ongoing tensions between Israel and the Netherlands. The move is likely to have significant implications for diplomatic relations between the two countries and may lead to further escalation in the coming days.
Key points
- Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the revocation of diplomatic accreditation for Dutch officials in the West Bank.
- The Netherlands began enforcing a ban on goods imported from Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights, the West Bank, and east Jerusalem.
- The Dutch ban is part of a coordinated action by 12 Western countries to sanction goods from Israeli settlements.
