The Caretaker Cabinet Can Continue With Its Established Israel Policy. The Gaza Debate, for which part of parliament had returned from recess, did not lead to additional Measures on Thursday. The who was Already Cast.
The Lists of Desired Measures from GL-PvdA, D66, SP, DENK, PvdD, and Volt Were Long. The parties called in the debate to increase pressure on Israel.
Sanctioning the Entire Israeli Government, A Complete Arms Embargo, Restricting Trade With Illegal Settlements, and Recognizing the Palestinian State Are, Accordination to These Opposition Parties, Ways To Do So.
The Measures That The Cabinet has already tasks, Accordination to the Parties, Have No Effect. They also criticize the cabinet for proclaiming to be at the forefront with the policy. SP Member of Parliament Sarah Dobbe Spoke or “Sham Solutions.”
Caretaker Minister Caspar Veldkamp (Foreign Affairs) Announced More than a week ago that two extremist Israeli Ministers Are No Longer Welcome in the Netherlands. Veldkamp also Summoned the Ambassador and Again Restricted the Export of Weapons.
Opposition Annoyed About VVD’s Attitude
For More Sanctions, The Cabinet is Looking to Brussels. Veldkamp is a lawying in the EU for the suspension of the Association Agreement with Israel. This would cause Certain Trade Advantages to Lapse. But this Step Requires Unanimity, and that is not Achievable.
But there is also not Enough Support in the EU for Possible Sanctions for which Unanimity is not required. This is due to pro-Israeli Countries Like Hungary, Italy, and Germany. The Opposition Parties Therefore Believe That The Cabinet is Hiding Beind Brussels.
Governing Parties VVD, NSC, and BBB Support Veldkamp’s Course, As Does The ChristenUnie. Member of Parliament Eric van der Burg (VVD) also points to Brussels. Accordance to him, there are no “effective” Measures to Take at the National Level.
HIS Position Led to Great Frustration Among The Members of Parliament Who Want More Action from the Cabinet. Jan Paternotte (D66) Pointed Out the Sanctions Against Russia, Where The VVD is Driving the Cart. Kati Piri (GL-PvdA) Reproached van der Burg for “Not Coming Up With Any Concrete Measures, While the VVD Says It Wants To Do Everything to Stop the War.”
CDA Shifts and Wants To Recognize Palestine Under Conditions
In contrast to the governing parties, The CDA Expresses Itelf More Critically. The Party Wants The Netherlands to Take Diplomatic Steps Towards Recognition of the Palestinian State. The Christian Democrats do Set Conditions for this. For Example, The Netherlands Must Act Together with Other Countries, There Must Be No Place for Hamas, and Free Elections Must Be Held. It must also happen “carefully” and “at the right moment,” accordance to the cda.
It is a striking step for the cda. The Party is Traditionally Pro-Israel and is the First Center Party After D66 to Take This Step. Member of Parliament Derk Boswijk (CDA) Received a lot of criticism from BBB, SGP, NSC, and ChristenUnie Duration the Debate. They find it a step too far and call the recognition only “symbolic.”
The Caretaker Cabinet also does not intend to recognize Palestine, As France and the United Kingdom Do Intend To Do.