The Dutch government is resisting pressure by Arab countries that it move its embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. Foreign Minister Christoph van der Kloauw, who is Acting Premier in the absence of Premier Andries van Agt who is on vocation, told a press conference here that diplomatic representatives of six Arab countries accredited to Holland had met with him and requested that the embassy be moved from Jerusalem.
Van der Kloauw said he told the representatives that the Dutch embassy is in Jerusalem because of historical circumstances, namely, the Dutch Consulate General has been in Jerusalem since the early 1920s. The presence of the embassy in Jerusalem, therefore, is not the result of a political act in connection with the State of Israel, but its removal would be clearly seen as a political act which would offend Israel, van der Kloauw said.
He added, however, that Holland has objected to the “annexation” of East Jerusalem by Israel and in particular to the planned transfer of Premier Menachem Begin’s office to East Jerusalem. According to van der Kloauw, the six Arab representatives were apprised of Holland’s full position.
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