Even without the PVV, the cabinet remains cautious about the human suffering in Gaza

In Gaza, children die every day through starvation, but the House of Representatives does not return from the summer recess.

This week, foreign spokespersons Kati Piri (GroenLinks-PvdA) and Jan Paternotte (D66) submitted a request for an emergency debate about the Israeli humanitarian blockade of the Gaza Strip. Only SP, Party for the Animals, Volt and DENK voted in favor, government parties NSC and BBB, the PVV and SGP voted against. Other parties, such as the VVD, the CDA and the ChristenUnie, did not make themselves heard.

It was also deafening silent on the part of outgoing Prime Minister Dick Schoof. In the past month, the commemorations of MH17 and Srebrenica tweeted and about working visits on the Botlek and at the port of Rotterdam – but he did not mention a word about the genocide on the inhabitants of Gaza.

Even among the PVV voters, only 23 percent support the current Israel/Gaza policy

Schoofs Stilzijgen contrasts with the alarming messages of his Foreign Minister, Caspar Veldkamp (NSC). It was Veldkamp who took the initiative this spring to investigate whether Israel acts contrary to the EU association agreement. When the European Council for Foreign Affairs this month after that investigation (conclusion: Israel violates the humanitarian war law), it was not even possible to become sanctions, signed Veldkamp and other foreign colleagues a British statement that called Israel to immediately stop the war. Last Thursday Veldkamp that statement. “Israel must admit help and adhere to international humanitarian law,” the minister wrote.

Gap

But Israel does not care much of such calls, while the situation in Gaza deteriorates by the day. The gap between international political reality and the political reactions here in the Netherlands is growing.

Under the diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there is growing dissatisfaction with the Dutch reluctance about Israeli violence and the shrinking credibility of the West.

In the Lower House, MPs were mainly concerned about something else last month: a motion from GroenLinks-PvdA to set up a complete arms embargo against Israel-including any parts for the Iron Dome rocket shield. The Netherlands does not produce parts for that, as this week was answered by answering parliamentary questions, but the indignation on the right was great: how could GroenLinks-PvdA at stake the safety of Israeli citizens?

In the meantime, a majority of the House of Representatives refuses to increase the pressure on Israel: for example, they do not express, for example, economic sanctions or harder diplomatic measures. PVV leader Geert Wilders openly announced that there is no room for the Palestinian people. The fact that the PVV agreed in the coalition agreement with the inclusion of the position that the Netherlands is still striving for a two -state solution was a compromise. But even now that the PVV has left the cabinet, the three left behind coalition parties – and a majority of the Chamber – remain on Israel.

Political lightning rod

NSC minister Veldkamp (former ambassador in Israel) may try to take a position, NSC-Buitenland spokesperson Isa Kahraman immediately starts with debates about the war in Gaza about human rights violations in Syria. That is a justified point, but also a political lightning rod.

BBB leader Caroline van der Plas and abroad spokesperson Henk Vermeer feel deeply connected to Israel-just like the Christian parties.

Zoom in

The VVD often has a decisive voice in political decisions around Gaza. This spring, for example, it was due to the liberals that the House agreed to investigate Veldkamp’s request into compliance with the association agreement by Israel.

Within the VVD there is dissatisfaction with the loud sound of party leader Dilan Yesilgöz, who recently accused singer Douwe Bob of ‘Jewish hatred’ because he refused to perform during a Jewish football tournament in Amsterdam. The VVD leader has not commented on the critical condition of the residents of Gaza last month. Fewer and fewer VVD people in her supporters support the cautious attitude towards Israel. After the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, a majority of VVD voters was behind the government policy, but that support has since fallen to 32 percent, According to research agency Ipsos. Also very striking: even among the PVV voters, only 23 percent support the current Israel/Gaza policy.

Seen in this way, there are few electoral risks to a more critical attitude towards the Netanyahu government for Yesilgöz. Nevertheless, national sanctions – in the absence of measures at European level – still seem far away. This spring, the Netherlands sharpened the arms export policy for Israel a small tap – from now on companies must apply for an export permit. At the same time, the State is still in cassation against the ruling of the Court of Appeal in The Hague, which has stipulated that no parts for Israeli F-35s from the Netherlands may be taken to Israel.

D66 spokesperson Jan Paternotte responded on Wednesday X Disappointed on the lack of support for an emergency debate in the Lower House. “What a weakness,” he tweeted. “As if Wilders is still in the coalition.”

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