Netherlands bans entry for Ben-Gvir, Smotrich on settlement expansion, Gaza comments
Netherlands bans entry for Ben-Gvir, Smotrich on settlement expansion, Gaza comments
The Israeli ambassador was summoned and requested to tell the Israeli government to change its current course in Gaza.
The Netherlands announced on Monday night that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich would be banned from entering its territory.
“The cabinet has therefore decided to declare Israeli ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir persona non grata and is committed to registering them as undesirable aliens in the Schengen registration system,” Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said.
“This is because they have repeatedly incited settler violence against the Palestinian population, persistently advocated the expansion of illegal settlements, and called for ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip.”
Veldkamp added that Israel’s ambassador to the Netherlands would be summoned and requested to “call on the Netanyahu government to change course…The current situation is intolerable and indefensible. Furthermore, it has been agreed to continue to increase pressure on Hamas to achieve a ceasefire.”
Ben-Gvir responded to the Netherlands’ decision on Tuesday morning, saying he would continue to act for Israel.“Even if I’m banned from entering all of Europe, I will continue to fight for our country and demand that we dismantle Hamas and support our fighters. The violent, the murderers, and the rapists are our enemies, but in Europe, as is often the case, the victim is blamed.”
“In a place where terrorism is tolerated and terrorists are welcomed, a Jewish minister from Israel is unwelcome, terrorists are free, and Jews are boycotted,” Ben-Gvir wrote.Smotrich says Netherlands, European states ‘fail to understand,’ comments on rising antisemitism
In a post on X/Twitter, Smotrich wrote that “every Jew in the world should be able to live in the State of Israel safely for generations to come.”
“What those in the Netherlands and other European countries fail to understand is that, more than my desire to enter the Netherlands, what matters most to me is that my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren – and every Jew in the world – should be able to live in the State of Israel safely for generations to come.”
The finance minister commented on rising antisemitism in Europe, writing, “In the Netherlands and in Europe more broadly, Jews did not live in safety at the beginning of the last century. And if we judge by European hypocrisy, the surrender of its leaders to the lies of radical Islam that is taking over, and the rising antisemitism, Jews will not be able to live there safely in the future either.”
He continued, “I dedicate my life to the future and security of Israel, and I will continue to do so, according to my best judgment, even if it means standing firm against the entire world. And as the late prime minister Menachem Begin said, if someone in the world turns up their nose, let them have a crooked nose.”
Tensions between Herzog, Dutch PM
On Monday, tensions erupted between President Isaac Herzog and the Dutch prime minister, following a sharply worded statement from the Netherlands suggesting punitive European measures against Israel due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In a social media post, Schoof said he had convened an emergency meeting with his deputy prime ministers, foreign minister, and defense minister to address what he described as “the catastrophic situation in Gaza.”
Schoof emphasized the Netherlands’ support for immediate and unrestricted humanitarian aid to the enclave and warned that if the European Union finds Israel in violation of humanitarian agreements, the Netherlands would support suspending Israel’s participation in the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program.Schoof went further, stating that if the EU takes action, the Netherlands would advocate additional measures—potentially in the trade sphere—and may also take national steps to “increase the pressure.”
Herzog tweeted in response, writing, “Sorry, Prime Minister, with all due respect—this tweet does not reflect the spirit or the details of our phone call.”
“Nor does it reflect my crystal-clear position: it will be a huge mistake if the EU takes such steps, especially in light of Israel’s ongoing and upgraded humanitarian efforts.”
Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said the Netherlands would also push for EU trade sanctions against Israel because it has not fully implemented its agreement with the European Union on increasing aid supplies to Gaza, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
