Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Sunday that Israel would revoke the diplomatic accreditation of all Dutch officials stationed in the West Bank, citing the Netherlands’ enforcement of sanctions on goods from Israeli settlements. The revocation comes after the Dutch government began banning imports from Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, effective from September 22.
The Dutch ban applies to both commercial shipments and personal baggage, prompting Dutch authorities to inspect luggage of passengers arriving from Israel at Schiphol Airport. Passengers were told to ensure that souvenirs and other items were not sourced from Judea and Samaria, a move that has already led to several confiscations.
The decision has drawn a sharp response from the United States. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee posted on X that Dutch travelers must check their souvenirs to avoid a possible six‑year prison term, underscoring the international pressure on the Netherlands to enforce the ban.
With the revocation, the Dutch diplomats must hand over all Israeli‑issued diplomatic papers within seven days. If they fail to comply, Israel will expel them and strip them of diplomatic privileges, potentially escalating tensions between the two countries and prompting diplomatic protests from the Dutch Foreign Ministry.
Meanwhile, Dutch officials say they will appeal the revocation through diplomatic channels, while Israeli officials insist the decision is a lawful response to the sanctions that violate international law regarding settlement goods.