Veldkamp: We will arrest Netanyahu if he is in the Netherlands
The Netherlands respects the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. If he comes to Dutch soil, he will be arrested, Foreign Minister Veldkamp said in the House of Representatives.
The Netherlands will also no longer establish 'non-essential' contacts with Netanyahu. The same applies to former Israeli Defense Minister Gallant and Hamas leader al-Masri, also known as Deif. Arrest warrants have been issued against them as well .
"The Netherlands implements the Rome Statute 100 percent," the minister said. That statute regulates the establishment of the ICC, based in The Hague, and how its rulings are dealt with.
The chances seem slim that Netanyahu or any of the other suspects will indeed set foot on Dutch soil in the short term. Veldkamp does plan to visit the Middle East soon.
Wilders to Israel PVV leader Wilders also wants to travel to Israel next month, including to visit the illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories. Veldkamp believes that this visit is at odds with government policy. But he cannot tell members of parliament what they can or cannot do.
It is still unclear what the consequences of the ICC ruling will be for the planned visits by Veldkamp and Wilders. In the debate on the budget of his ministry, Veldkamp emphasized that there is a difference between essential and non-essential contacts, although it is not clear where exactly the boundary lies. If an essential conversation is necessary, he will first discuss it in the Council of Ministers.
Left-wing opposition parties find it unacceptable that Veldkamp, ??or other members of the Dutch cabinet, should still shake hands with the Israeli Prime Minister.
