Netherlands expelled from headquarters in Kiryat Gat
Following the expulsion of Spain, Israel has decided that the Netherlands will also be unable to participate in the Civil-Military Coordination Center, and its representatives have been asked to leave the country within a week. "Our message is clear: whoever acts against Israel will have no foothold in the region," said Sa'ar.
Following a series of anti-Israel moves by the Dutch government, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, with the consent of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, decided today (Tuesday) to expel the country's representatives from the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, which was established as part of the peace plan for Gaza by US President Donald Trump. Notification of this was delivered this evening to the Dutch Embassy in Israel and to the US. The representatives were asked to leave Israel within a week.
Among the Netherlands' moves was the enactment of a law prohibiting trade in Israeli products from Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, which will take effect next month. Sa'ar emphasized:
"The anti-Israel policy of the Dutch government is accompanied by a wave of antisemitism and boycotts unprecedented in that country. Our message is clear: whoever acts against Israel will have no foothold in the region. Israel will not allow steps against it without a response."
The Dutch law is expected to take effect on September 22 and will prohibit the import, purchase, sale, and commercial mediation of products originating from Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria. The decision, approved in May, is based on the government's position that the settlements are illegal under international law. According to the new decree, it will be prohibited not only to import products from the settlements but also to purchase or sell them within the Netherlands or provide mediation services enabling trade in them.
The leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom, Geert Wilders, harshly criticized the decision, stating he is "deeply ashamed of the betrayal by the left-liberal government of the Netherlands," which he claims is "surrendering to Israel-haters and lovers of Islam."
In addition to the new law, the Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS officially announced that it will boycott Eurovision 2027, which will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria. The decision was made as a protest against Israel's participation in the competition, citing the situation in Gaza and "the lack of clear rules for disqualifying countries involved in military conflicts."
The Netherlands is the second country to be expelled from the coordination center in Kiryat Gat. The previous country was Spain, which was expelled in April of this year. The Foreign Ministry's statement at the time noted the decision was made "against the backdrop of the anti-Israel obsession of Pedro Sanchez's Spanish government and the severe damage to Israel's interests and those of the US." Israel considered expelling French representatives as well but chose not to do so, apparently for fear of a very harsh French response.
