Passengers downplay Dutch luggage checks that sparked Israeli warning on settlement goods ban

Passengers on an El Al flight have downplayed reports of invasive luggage checks by Dutch customs. According to The Times of Israel, Dutch citizens on the flight said the checks were limited and not focused on banned products.

The incident is part of a larger dispute between Israel and the Netherlands over a ban on trade with Israeli settlements. The Netherlands' new measures, which took effect last week, prohibit importing, buying or selling goods originating from Israeli settlements in territories occupied by Israel.

In response, Israel has given Dutch diplomats working in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, seven days to surrender their Israeli-issued credentials. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the diplomatic privileges and immunities granted to them by the State of Israel will expire after this period. The Netherlands can continue representing its interests with the Palestinians, but will have to operate from Palestinian Authority territory.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Times of Israel, The National UAE, The National Business, France 24 — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.