“We talked about our renewed cooperation and I stressed that the Netherlands is unchanged in favor of a two-state solution and is against any initiative that jeopardizes it,” Prime Minister Rutte wrote in a statement. tweets.
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The new coalition is under the magnifying glass internationally. The government is based, among others, on the Religious Zionism Party (RZ), which is fiercely opposed to a Palestinian state and wants to annex more occupied land through illegal settlements.
Al-Aqsa Mosque
Radical Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir received international criticism when he toured the grounds of Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque shortly after taking office. Only Muslims can pray at the site, but Ben-Gvir wants to change that.
UN chief Antonio Guterres has called on the parties not to escalate the matter. The Berlin government called the visit a “provocation”. Ben-Gvir’s move has sparked strong protests from Palestinians. Neighboring Jordan has also reacted furiously.
The negotiations have stalled
The Netherlands has maintained good relations with both Israel and the Palestinians for years. The government supports the two-state solution, but peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for many years.