The Netherlands Government has decided to shut down its only office in Jerusalem and transfer its functions to the Dutch Embassy in Tel Aviv. The move was said to be for reasons of economy.
The office processes the applications of Dutch Jewish emigres in Israel for special pensions under a 1972 law authorizing monthly payments to victims of Nazi persecution in Holland. So far about 2,000 Jewish immigrants have qualified.
The office will be attached to the Consular Section of the Embassy in Tel Aviv. It now occupies a building on Balfour Street in Jerusalem which had been the private residence of the Dutch Ambassador.
Holland was the only European country to have its Embassy in Jerusalem. It was shifted to Tel Aviv in 1980 as a gesture of protest against Israel’s formal annexation of East Jerusalem.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
