Dutch Labour, Green parties threaten to revoke support for EU – Israel trade agreement

The Labour (PvdA/S&D) and Green (GL/Greens-EFA) parties voiced their sympathy for a parliamentary motion calling to revoke Dutch support for the EU’s Association Agreement with Israel on Wednesday, demanding a ceasefire in exchange for maintaining support.

The Association Agreement, which came into force in 2000, forms the legal basis for bilateral relations between the EU and Israel. However, meetings under the format have been suspended since 2013 due to disagreements regarding Israel’s settlement policy.

On Tuesday, the motion was tabled by left-wing parties BIJ1 and DENK, who called on Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD/Renew) to urge for a suspension of the Association Agreement during the European Council on 26 and 27 October.

While the motion fell through due to insufficient support, the Labour and Green parties expressed their sympathy towards its reasoning.

“Let us be clear, substantively, there is every reason to vote in favour of this motion if you look at what is going on in the West Bank, if you look at the policies of the Netanyahu government and if you look at a minister who is arming settlers to kill Palestinians with impunity,” PvdA lawmaker Kati Piri, who also spoke for the Greens and Volt, stated during the vote.

“The debate yesterday was about the need for an immediate ceasefire so that aid can be delivered to Gaza, and that [delivery of aid] is the only reason why we are voting against this motion today,” she added, making clear that all three parties would revoke their support for the association agreement if a ceasefire isnot implemented soon.

The two parties, who will be competing with a joint list in next month’s national elections, were busy quelling internal turmoil regarding the Israel – Palestine conflict over the past few weeks, as many members slammed lead candidate Frans Timmermans’ reaction to the Hamas terror attacks as too sympathetic to Israel.

During their joint party congress two weeks ago, both parties passed an internal motion that condemned Hamas while calling on Israel to adhere to international law and stop its policy of illegal settlements on Palestinian territory.

The two parties’ openness to supporting the agreement’s suspension may have an aftermath depending on next month’s national elections, where the PvdA/GL alliance is currently polling in third place.

(Benedikt Stöckl | Euractiv.com)