Dutch gov't to ban imports from Israeli settlements as quickly as possible
The caretaker Schoof I Cabinet will introduce a national import ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory “as soon as possible,” caretaker Minister David van Weel of Foreign Affairs said in a parliamentary debate on Wednesday. The promise caused quite a bit of astonishment, because boycotting Israeli products was one of the points that caused the already collapsed Cabinet to implode even further less than three weeks ago, NOS reports.
A parliamentary majority, including the VVD, supported a request from the D66 for the Cabinet to implement this national ban as quickly as possible. Van Weel said that he would initiate an Order in Council to implement the ban, because this would be quicker than legislation.
Less than three weeks ago, the NSC pulled out of the already collapsed Schoof I Cabinet because then Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp couldn’t convince the VVD and BBB to implement more measures against Israel, including a boycott on Israeli products. The VVD insisted on first doing a European-wide assessment to determine whether such a trade embargo could be implemented.
According to VVD MP Erik van der Burg, the party changed its mind after it became clear in Copenhagen at the end of August that the EU member states were still divided on the union’s Israel policy. But if a European solution turns out to be possible, that would get preference because it “sends a stronger signal,” Minister Van Weel added.
Van Weel’s commitment caused some surprise in parliament. Only three weeks ago, this issue was so divisive in the coalition that the NSC couldn’t remain part of it, even with elections coming up next month. “What the Cabinet collapsed over 19 days ago will now happen after all,” D66 parliamentarian Jan Patenotte said on X. “I can see why people often don’t understand [national politics].”
In the debate, parties also urged the government to take in and care for sick and injured Palestinian children in the Netherlands. Van Weel said the Cabinet was investigating how to provide aid to countries in the region that are treating people from Gaza. “We can achieve more there with fewer resources,” Van Weel said. He is against evacuating children to the Netherlands.
Disappointed opposition parties pointed out that the World Health Organization and other aid organizations are calling for medical evacuations. Taking in children is “the least that the Nehterlands can do,” SP parliamentarian Sarah Dobbe said.
