Thousands of Palestinian supporters rallied against Israel on the Netherlands’ Liberation Day. Ha’aretz reported that Saturday’s protesters sought to equate Israeli policy in the West Bank with the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
Former Dutch Prime Minister Dries Van Agt at the gathering criticized Holland’s “biased” pro-Israeli stance and its boycott of Hamas, the terrorist group that took over the Palestinian Authority government after winning elections last year. Holland is part of a Western boycott on direct aid to Hamas until the group accepts Israel’s right to exist and renounces violence. P.A. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, who had intended to address the rally, was denied a visa to the Netherlands.
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.
