The Netherlands appears not to deliver parts to Israel for Iron Dome. ‘Political commotion was for part for nothing’

The Netherlands does not make parts for the Israeli air defense system Iron Dome. This is evident from the answer to parliamentary questions by outgoing State Secretary Hanneke Boerma (NSC, Foreign Trade). The Netherlands was only passed by the goods produced by Canada and then transported to Germany via the Netherlands. From Germany they were shipped to Israel, Boerma writes, also on behalf of outgoing minister Caspar Veldkamp (NSC, Foreign Affairs).

There was great excitement about a motion about delivery in June, especially at GroenLinks-PvdA where hundreds of members canceled their membership-including prominent figures such as former chamber chairman Gerdi Verbeet. The House of Representatives had submitted a motion that called for a complete arms embargo against Israel, including deliveries for the air defense shield. This is due to “ethnic purification and genocide in Gaza,” said the motion of the member Kati Piri. She said to NRC namely “that the Netherlands delivers parts for the radar for the rocket shield”.

Israel is not really dependent on the Netherlands for such an essential part of her defense

The motion, which was rejected by the Chamber, elicited prominent figures in the party such as Verbeet, but also former party leaders Job Cohen and Lodewijk Asscher and former MP Rob Oudkerk Bright, emotional reactions. According to them, the Netherlands could have tens of thousands of civilians on its conscience if it would no longer contribute to the Iron Dome, the Israeli self -defense against attacks by, for example, Iran or Hezbollah.

“The currently loss of rocket defense due to lack of parts could lead to tens of thousands of extra innocent civilian casualties, both Palestinians, Israeli Arabs, Druzen, Christians and Jewish Israelis,” ” was the text of a ‘counter-motion’ that was supported by Verbeet and the former party leaders. That happened during A tumultuous party congress. That motion was also rejected.

In various Iranian attacks on Israel in recent months, the Iron Dome is still actively used for the defense of Israel, and the number of victims was thus limited.

‘Big words’

DENK party leader Stephan van Baarle asked the cabinet on 25 May what the Dutch deliveries included in the air defense shield. The answers came on Monday afternoon, 21 July of outgoing State Secretary Boerma, who succeeded Reinette Klever after the PVV had left the cabinet.

Since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, there have been two deliveries, says Boerma. In both cases that concerned throughput. “These are goods that have not been produced in the Netherlands, but in Canada,” said the State Secretary. “The components were then transferred from the Netherlands to Germany to be further processed there, with Israel’s final destination. Several comparable transactions have taken place since 2013.”

Frank Slijper, the arms trade expert for peace organization PAX, concludes: “The political commotion was therefore partly for nothing, because the Netherlands plays no role in the Iron Dome. Critics such as Gerdi Verbeet and Job Cohen put themselves behind a motion with very big words when they could lead to tens of tens of extra innocent innocent innocent.”

Slijper followed reports about the supposed deliveries to Israel in May and June with the necessary skepticism. “Israel is not really dependent on the Netherlands for such an essential part of its defense. The majority of the system makes it itself and for a limited part it opts for the US or Canada, countries that sees Israel as more reliable suppliers.”

Former chamber chairman Gerdi Verbeet canceled her 52-year membership of the PvdA during the tumult within her party about the Iron Dome issue. To a question from NRC for a response to the letter from State Secretary Boerma, Verbeet writes that he does not surprise her, but she will reject further comments. Member of Parliament Kati Piri was not available for comment due to vacation. Think leader Van Baarle does not respond either.

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