Israel has revoked the diplomatic credentials of Dutch officials working in the occupied West Bank, intensifying diplomatic tensions with the Netherlands. The action is in response to the Netherlands’ recent restrictions on goods originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which went into effect on September 22.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that the Dutch Embassy had been notified that its diplomats stationed in Ramallah have seven days to surrender their Israeli-issued diplomatic documents. This decision reflects Israel’s strong opposition to international measures targeting its settlements, which have been a contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Sa’ar stated that Dutch officials who wish to continue their work in the West Bank may do so with authorization from the Palestinian Authority. This development follows a growing trend of diplomatic disputes between Israel and several European countries over settlement policies and the broader situation in Palestinian territories.
The Netherlands’ decision to restrict settlement goods is part of a wider European discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where several nations have taken actions that Israel perceives as punitive or biased. The revocation of credentials marks a significant escalation in the bilateral tensions between Israel and the Netherlands.