Dutch Minister Sjoerdsma apologizes after reversing UNRWA funding cut, faces backlash
Dutch Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Minister Sjoerdsma apologized in Tweede Kamer on Thursday after reversing a previously agreed cut to funding for the U.N. agency UNRWA, drawing accusations of political maneuvering. According to NOS, Sjoerdsma acknowledged responsibility for the controversy, saying he had handled the matter clumsily and that things had gone wrong on his side.
The dispute centers on a two-stage budget process involving UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which provides emergency aid in the Palestinian territories.
Two weeks earlier, Sjoerdsma secured a parliamentary majority for his ministry’s budget with backing from right-wing opposition parties including JA21. That support was tied to a reduction in UNRWA funding from 19 million to 11 million euros, a cut carried over from the previous cabinet over concerns about alleged ties between UNRWA and Hamas.
Days after the vote, Sjoerdsma informed lawmakers he still intended to transfer an additional 8 million euros to UNRWA this year, citing the new coalition agreement, which states an intention to restore cooperation with the agency under conditions.
The reversal triggered strong criticism across the Tweede Kamer, with lawmakers accusing the minister of undermining trust after securing support for his budget.
JA21 leader Eerdmans said the situation created a sense that the party had been misled and warned that his party would not support similar practices in the future. GroenLinks-PvdA lawmaker Kröger also criticized the approach, saying it amounted to selectively shifting political positions.
Sjoerdsma rejected allegations of bad faith, saying he had aimed for transparency but achieved the opposite and took responsibility for the outcome.
He said confusion emerged after the budget vote over whether the government would fully implement coalition agreements and that he had sought to clarify the situation. He described a conflict between honoring the coalition agreement and securing parliamentary approval for his budget.
Sjoerdsma also pointed to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, arguing UNRWA remains essential for delivering emergency aid that cannot currently be replaced.
JA21 said it plans to submit a motion of regret later Thursday. While nonbinding, such a motion would signal formal parliamentary disapproval. It is not yet clear whether it will gain a majority.
