The House of Representatives rejected a motion from GroenLinks-PvdA on Thursday evening about stopping the delivery of parts for the air defense of Israel. In a joint and several mood, only 35 MPs supported the motion, 99 MPs voted against. Parties who have been arguing for some time for sanctions against Israel because of the genocidal violence in Gaza, such as D66 and Volt, also turned against the proposal.
MP Kati Piri (GroenLinks-PvdA) argued earlier on Thursday, in a debate with outgoing Minister Caspar Veldkamp (NSC), for a “temporary, full arms export ban” to Israel. Until recently she made an exception for the Iron Dome–System, the anti -aircraft system with which Israel can destroy incoming missiles. But in the debate she emphasized that Israel is now using the system “as a part of the attack strategy”, and that is why its party wants the Netherlands to no longer deliver parts for that.
Piri: “Netanyahu had also attacked Iran if he did not have the Iron Dome? Israel dares, precisely because of this system.”
‘A remarkable twist’
The motion was strongly criticized by right -wing parties. Minister Veldkamp said that Piri is apparently of the opinion that Israel “is no longer allowed to have a functioning anti -aircraft and can no longer defend itself against incoming rockets.” Veldkamp called the submitted motion, and with it the changed position of GroenLinks-PvdA on the arms delivery, in addition “a remarkable twist” that the outgoing cabinet “will not take over”.
MPs Eric van der Burg (VVD) and Don Ceder (ChristenUnie) also expressed their displeasure about the motion, and previously called on Piri to withdraw it earlier in the day. Van der Burg: “So you say:” The population of Israel has lost the right to deploy air defense, to defend themselves, because their head of government is doing something? “Cedar stated, among other things, that GroenLinks-Pvda” radicalizes “and called the position of the party” recovering. “
Piri kept it with “a devilish dilemma” and said she had hoped that it had never come to this motion. “I no longer see any other option. The entire Middle East is going on fire through a madman’s head at the head of the Israeli government. I see no other option than to use all the pressure means to stop this.”