Dutch Security Agencies Raise Concerns Over Israeli Interference in Domestic Politics
The Hague (Quds News Network) – Concerns are mounting within Dutch government ministries over unwanted Israeli interference in national political debates, reported de Volkskrant.
Tensions have escalated following the circulation of a report from the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism, which was sent to Dutch lawmakers ahead of a recent parliamentary debate on violence by Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in Amsterdam.
The 27-page report claims that several Dutch organizations in Amsterdam, which defend the rights of the Palestinian people, have close ties to the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.
This document is literally from the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs https://t.co/3RsDR5SBKY pic.twitter.com/V4uNAirKqm
— Marc Owen Jones (@marcowenjones) November 14, 2024
The document was cited by Caroline van der Plas, leader of the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) party, during the parliamentary session. She questioned Prime Minister Dick Schoof, asking whether the claims in the report were substantiated, to which Schoof responded with apparent surprise: “I am being asked something I have no confirmation of.”
Justice and Security Minister David van Weel later confirmed the existence of the Israeli report but expressed skepticism, stating, “I have yet to see any evidence linking Dutch pro-Palestinian organizations to Hamas.” Despite this, SGP Member of Parliament Chris Stoffer used the document to propose a motion calling for sanctions against Dutch organizations accused by Israel as being pro-Hamas, labeling them as terrorist entities.
Controversial Claims and Diplomatic Fallout
The report, which received prominent coverage in De Telegraaf under the headline “Israel Labels Attacks as Islamic Terror: Palestinian Community Foundation Incited Pogrom,” has sparked significant backlash. Israeli Minister Amichai Chikli, speaking to the Dutch press, demanded severe action from the Netherlands, urging authorities to take both legal and economic measures against those dutch organizations, and even echoed far-right leader Geert Wilders’ suggestion of deportation.
Within Dutch security circles, however, the report has raised alarms over perceived Israeli interference. Multiple sources within the ministries responsible for national security, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the issue, expressed concerns over the impact of such interference on Dutch domestic affairs. These officials emphasized the need for an independent Dutch assessment before acting on foreign intelligence.
The National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) acknowledged receiving the report but refrained from commenting on its content, stating that it was still under review.
Koen Aartsma, an intelligence and security expert from the Clingendael Institute, stated that the Israeli document “appears to have been hastily compiled by a non-neutral source,”, adding that Dutch authorities must conduct their own investigations before drawing conclusions. “The timing and manner of this report’s release are problematic, especially as it risks inflaming political debates without thorough vetting by Dutch agencies,” he added.
The report controversially links the Dutch Foundation for Palestinian Community (PGNL), known for organizing peaceful pro-Palestine demonstrations, to Hamas, citing social media posts and interviews by some of its members as evidence.
Israel Denies Interference
In response to the backlash, Israeli Ambassador to the Netherlands, Modi Ephraim, denied that Israel’s interference, claiming that Israel’s objective was merely to combat antisemitism. “The ministry is simply fulfilling its duty to identify and address antisemitism. Sharing this document is part of that effort,” Ephraim told De Volkskrant.
Amid growing scrutiny, the Dutch government faces increasing pressure to address the implications of the Israeli report. Critics argue that accepting foreign intelligence without independent verification could compromise the integrity of Dutch political processes.
The Dutch cabinet held an emergency meeting yesterday amid mounting reports that the ruling coalition might be on the verge of collapse following the resignation of Finance State Secretary Nora Achahbar earlier on Friday. Achahbar, a prominent figure within the coalition, reportedly stepped down in protest over racist statements made by fellow ministers earlier in the week regarding the Israeli attacks in Amsterdam.
