The outgoing cabinet of VVD and BBB remains willing to see with other countries whether a joint economic boycott of illegal, Israeli settlements on the West Bank is possible. That said Minister Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) of Foreign Affairs, the provisional successor to Caspar Veldkamp, on Friday evening during a final parliamentary debate about Israel and Gaza.
Veldkamp resigned on Friday evening because he felt hindered by coalition partners VVD and BBB to take harder measures against Israel. One of the sanctions that Veldkamp mentioned on Thursday and who was on the table on Friday was a Dutch economic boycott of illegal, Israeli settlements.
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Veldkamp itself became more critical of Israel, but ran into walls at home and abroad
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Both D66 and Volt have asked the government per motion to introduce such a ban on importing products from these areas as quickly as possible. D66 also asked to continue to investigate the support for a European ban; VVD and CDA have already submitted a motion for such a lobby that also received a majority of the Chamber of Chamber at the beginning of July.
The call from D66 and Volt for a direct, Dutch boycott did not want to embrace outgoing Brekelmans. Opposition parties argued that the Netherlands is obliged to take measures due to the international genocide conversation and because of the harrowing humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Brekelmans said that every country makes its own choices with regard to Israel and Gaza, and that, for example, the Netherlands has already done air droppings with aids. He also repeated that the outgoing cabinet wants to view the possibilities for an effective boycott with a group of European countries. In addition, Brekelmans said that during the ongoing conversation in the Council of Ministers, the departed Minister Veldkamp was ‘ran away’, and therefore did not know how far the cabinet is willing to go with sanctions against Israel.
‘NO YOU BAK’
When Brekelmans was approached by Nicolien van Vroonhoven of NSC, he said it was not intended as a “you bake for Minister Veldkamp”.
Moties for an overall military boycott of Israel also wanted to discourage the cabinet, said Brekelmans. Weapon deliveries cannot simply be canceled because there would often also follow orders for ammunition, spare parts and ‘upgrades’. For its own safety, the Netherlands is also partly dependent on military products from Israel, he said.
Brekelmans also received fierce reproaches, because the outgoing cabinet discouraged a motion for medical evacuations of seriously injured or sick Gazan children with close family. The cabinet thinks that medical care in the region is possible for these children, and that this is more effective, Brekelmans said.
DENK leader Stephan van Baarle accused of Brekelmans at the end of the debate that he “has political blood on his hands,” and that he would have to answer to a judge. Brekelmans called on Van Baarle to keep the debate in a calm way, because such statements can have personal consequences.
All chamber motions that called the outgoing cabinet into a boycott of Israel – economic, military, political, academic or sporty – did not eventually reach a majority. Moties that did raise the total destruction of Hamas, additional sanctions against Hamas leaders, and putting pressure on countries that support Hamas. Furthermore, the Chamber wants unhindered access to Gaza for journalists, observers and aid organizations.