Rotterdam left-wing alliance collapses over Zionism=ISIS tweet

The GroenLinks and PvdA factions in Rotterdam pulled out of a left-wing alliance in the city over a tweet by Islam inspired party Nida in 2014. In the tweet Nida links Israel and Zionism to terrorist organization ISIS.

The left-wing parties in Rotterdam - GroenLinks, PvdA, SP and Nida - teamed up in the Links Verbond in the run-up to the municipal elections next week. They wanted to offer an alternative to right-wing policy.

The Nida tweet, which resurfaced in the media on Sunday, sparked crisis negotiations between the four parties, after which GroenLinks and the PvdA decided to withdraw from the alliance, RTL Nieuws reports.

"Contrary to what we agreed, Nida does not distance itself sufficiently from the objectionable tweet from 2014. I no longer have confidence in Nida's position. As far as I am concerned, there is no longer a place for Nida in our alliance", GroenLinks leader in Rotterdam Judith Bokhove said on Twitter.

Barbara Kathmann, PvdA leader in Rotterdam, said: "It seemed that we would get through it together. But in the end I found that the cooperation is not there now."

The SP faction in Rotterdam decided to stick to the alliance and agreements made. Nida is also still committed to the Links Verbond. "Nida still feels bound to the agreements that were made. We placed our signature on the agreement", Nida city councilor Nourdin el Ouali said, according to RTL.