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.
