Dutch embassy could move to Jerusalem despite criticism from Palestinian rights groups

The planned coalition of the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB wants to move the Dutch embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the parties wrote in their agreement. “The Netherlands supports the right of existence and the safety of the State of Israel,” wrote the four parties, which is a strong shift for the VVD, as well as NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt.

“Considering the solutions for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the diplomatic interests, research will be done into when the best time is to move the embassy to Jerusalem.” Only a few countries have embassies in Jerusalem, as both the Israelis and Palestinians consider it to be their capital. Jordan controlled the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, until they lost it to Israel during the Six Day War. The divided city also makes the decision to locate an embassy there controversial, even though Israel's seat of government is in West Jerusalem.

A few years after the United States moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018 under former President Donald Trump, PVV leader Geert Wilders submitted a motion to relocate the embassy in Israel at the end of 2022. His joint proposal with the PVV’s party member leading asylum issues, Gidi Markuszower, was ultimately shot down.

The VVD voted against the motion, as did Omtzigt, who had already left the CDA but had not yet formed the NSC. The BBB voted in favor of the motion.

The decision by the new coalition to move the embassy has also proven to be disconcerting to a group of civil servants, and former ministers, ambassadors and diplomats. "With this, the Netherlands will recognize the right of Israel to exist, but not of. This also puts pressure on a two-state solution, and the move from the Netherlands is far from de-escalating,” said a spokesperson for Civil Servants and the Constitution. "We do not see how this fits within our own constitution and international rights.” The spokesperson added that it is important that the Netherlands stick to international treaties “for our safety, too.”

The group has protested against the Dutch government’s policy regarding the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The civil servants have organized several sit-ins in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the beginning of May, former Minister of Development Cooperation Jan Pronk also joined the protest.

The Dutch Palestine Committee (NPK) said that the decision to move the embassy is terrible news. Chair Robert Soeterik claimed that this step contravenes international rights. “This is about occupied territory, Israel has annexed Jerusalem,” said Soeterik. “Most states worldwide do not recognize the occupation and the annexation. The move to Jerusalem would mean the embassy would be in annexed territory, which is not allowed.”

But the NPK was not surprised that the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB agreed to this in their outline agreements. “These parties have shown a very strong pro-Israel position with their motions for a long time," said Soeterik. "So this does not surprise us one bit.”

The Center for Information and Documentation Israel (CIDI) is positive about the outline agreement. “The position and support for Israel is strengthened, and anti-Semitism is also being further combated. Two important pillars for our organization," said Naomi Mestrum, who leads the Jewish and Israeli interest group.

CIDI said moving the Dutch embassy will work under the right conditions. “Then we are in favor. It is courageous that they have tackled it like this, and if it happens, we will cheer it on. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and therefore, it is not so crazy that the embassy should move there. The Netherlands is not unique in this; a few other countries have already done it or are contemplating doing it.”

The U.S. Congress passed a law in 2005 that made it possible for that country to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. However, Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama delayed the move to avoid endangering national safety. Trump made the decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, fulfilling a campaign promise.

The move was delayed by six months due to the possibility of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Should the Palestinians form a future State of Palestine, their capital could be located in East Jerusalem.