In the Netherlands, even a souvenir in a Jew's suitcase can become a political issue - opinion
From Hebron to Jerusalem, Europe’s settlement boycott overlooks the Jewish communities expelled long before Israel’s founding.
The Netherlands has introduced a controversial policy that allows customs officers to search and confiscate souvenirs from travelers' luggage if the items originate from Israeli settlements. This rule took effect on September 22 and applies to any item, regardless of its origin or how long ago it was acquired. Dutch authorities are required to consult European postal codes to determine if an item carries a prohibited address.
Critics argue that this policy is driven by moral outrage rather than a genuine commitment to international law, and questions have been raised about its historical context. During World War II, three-quarters of the Netherlands' Jewish population were killed by Nazi forces, with the assistance of Dutch civil servants and police.
This history is used to justify the current policy, despite the fact that Japan, which allied with Nazi Germany, does not share Europe's centuries of anti-Jewish persecution and has only sanctioned individuals accused of violence, not confiscating travelers' belongings. Comparisons to historical events, such as the 1929 Hebron massacre and the establishment of Gush Etzion, are used to highlight the absurdity of the current policy, which treats Jewish dispossession as an administrative issue rather than a matter of historical injustice.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
