Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in the Netherlands this afternoon for a two-day visit. He will first speak at the historic Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam and will be received by Queen Beatrix at her palace in The Hague tomorrow.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte will meet with him later in the day, as will members of the Dutch parliament and various cabinet ministers. The Netherlands is widely considered one of Israel’s closest allies, all the more important for Israel as Europe takes an increasingly critical stance toward the country.
The Dutch Palestine Committee Director Wim Langkamp says the only thing Mr Netanyahu should be doing in the Netherlands is to appear before the International Criminal Court.
Harry de Winter one of the founders of the Dutch Jewish organization "A Different Jewish Voice in the Netherlands" said: "He shouldn’t be coming at all. You shouldn’t be putting out the red carpet given the terrible human rights situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories. If the Netherlands were a true friend of Israel, it would be more critical of Israeli policies. Israel would benefit more from that kind of friendship."
For more: Netanyahu amongst friends and critics | Radio Netherlands Worldwide
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