Israel has withdrawn the diplomatic credentials of Dutch officials working in the occupied West Bank, intensifying friction with the Netherlands over its policy on goods from Israeli settlements. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that the Dutch Embassy in Israel has been informed about the revocation, giving Dutch diplomats stationed in Ramallah a seven-day period to return their Israeli-issued diplomatic documents.
This action by Israel comes in response to the Netherlands’ decision to impose restrictions on goods originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a measure that took effect on September 22. Israel has consistently opposed international actions targeting its settlements and has been critical of countries implementing such measures, which it sees as interference in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Sa’ar noted that Dutch officials who wish to continue their activities in the West Bank could seek authorization from the Palestinian Authority instead. This development marks an escalation in the diplomatic tensions between Israel and several European countries over settlement policies and the broader situation in the Palestinian territories.
The diplomatic rift with the Netherlands is part of a wider pattern of disagreements between Israel and various European nations regarding the legality and future of Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this characterization. The ongoing disputes underscore the complex and often contentious nature of international diplomacy concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.