The Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs, Caspar Veldkamp, said on Thursday (7) that the country will defend, within the European Union (EU), the suspension of the commercial component of the association agreement between the bloc and Israel. The information was conveyed by the Israeli newspaper Ynet News and occurs amid the increase of European criticism against Israel for their military operations in the Gaza Strip.
According to Veldkamp, the decision has already been communicated to Israel’s ambassador in the Netherlands, Modi Ephraim. The objective, according to the minister, is to express the discontent of part of the EU with the conduct of the war in Gaza. Dutch pressure is the result of the growing mobilization of several European authorities, which require the block’s tougher measures in response to the situation involving conflict in the Palestinian territory.
In addition to the Netherlands, other EU countries have also openly defended the suspension of the Association Agreement with Israel, including Spain, Ireland, Sweden and Luxembourg, which charge the block more firm measures against the Israeli. Slovenia recently prohibited arms trade with Israel and formally recognized the state of Palestine.
