Demand for Israel investigation causing more strife in Dutch Cabinet
Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp’s request to EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas to investigate whether Israel is adhering to the human rights conditions of the association agreement between the EU and the country has caused another fight in the already pretty divided Schoof I Cabinet. The coalition party PVV is angry that it and its Ministers weren’t informed about the letter in advance, sources close to the coalition told Nieuwsuur.
In the letter, NSC Minister Veldkamp accused Israel of not respecting human rights and democratic principles by blocking all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza for weeks. These principles are included in the treaty between Israel and the European Union, and Veldkamp wants the EU to investigate Israel’s compliance with the treaty’s conditions.
Multiple sources told Nieuwsuur that Veldkamp sent the letter without consulting with PVV Minister Reinette Klever (Foreign Trade and Development Aid) and PVV Deputy Prime Minister Fleur Agema. Only Klever’s political assistant received a notification that “something” was coming the evening before Veldkamp sent the letter.
PVV leader Geert Wilders, known to completely support Israel, expressed his displeasure on X, as he is wont to do. “Say [Prime Minister Dick] Schoof, were htose ridiculous anti-Israel measures of Minister Veldkamp taken by the entire Cabinet? Were all Ministers of all parties informed of this in advance, and did they agree to it? Is there a decision of the Council of Ministers at the basis of this?” he wrote.
According to the PVV, it is Schoof’s job as Prime Minister to ensure that Ministers and coalition party members are not ambushed and surprised in sensitive areas.
Sources close to Veldkamp point out that the government agreement states that the Cabinet can give substance to foreign policy. It states: “Where human rights and the rule of law are seriously violated, such as in Iran, Venezuela, or Belarus, the Cabinet will speak out and take action.” About Gaza, it states that the Cabinet is committed to “alleviating the serious humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip and releasing all hostages.”
Veldkamp responded to Wilders’ post on X: “I will not go into the precise decision-making and what exactly is coordinated in the Cabinet. What this is about: the situation in the Gaza Strip is truly catastrophic and is only getting worse.”
Heading into an informal meeting of EU Ministers in Warsaw, Veldkamp also said that he was not the only one in the Cabinet who wants the EU to investigate Israel. “You can assume that I am not doing this alone,” he said.
As of April 20th, Israel has killed at least 51,157 people in Gaza, including at least 17,400 children, Al Jazeera reported based on figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health. At least 116,724 people are hurt, and thousands are missing under the rubble, presumed dead. Israel’s bombings continue unabated, while it has also cut off Gaza from any aid and electricity. Around 290,000 children are “on the brink of death” from starvation, Gaza’s Government Media Office (GMO) said on Sunday.
