Israel strips Dutch diplomats of status in West Bank
The move by the Israeli Foreign Ministry is a response to Dutch sanctions targeting goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The Dutch Foreign Ministry is yet to comment.
The Israeli government announced on Sunday that it is stripping Dutch diplomats of their diplomatic status in the West Bank. This decision comes in response to Dutch sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements within the occupied territories. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that Israel will not tolerate actions designed to harm it, and ordered Dutch diplomats in Ramallah to return their Israeli-issued diplomatic documentation within seven days.
After this period, their diplomatic privileges and immunities will cease. Earlier this month, Dutch authorities began enforcing a ban on settlement goods, which includes both personal baggage and commercial shipments. This ban, effective since September 22, has led to searches of luggage arriving at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport from Israel.
Israel had previously closed the British Consulate in East Jerusalem after London imposed similar sanctions banning goods from illegal settlements. Saar warned that hostile and unilateral actions against Israel will result in a loss of influence and relevance in the region. France and Canada have also banned settlement goods, but Israel has yet to take action against those countries.
In August, Israel banned Dutch diplomats from a US-led coordination center for Gaza, citing "anti-Israel measures."
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
