The Dutch government today emphasized the strictly “private character” of Crown Princess Beatrix’s visit to Israel. The government has forbidden the Princess and her husband. Prince Klaus, to visit the occupied territories and even the holy places in East Jerusalem. The Dutch government’s restrictions are such that the couple, who are due to visit Massada during their one-week stay in Israel beginning this week, will have to fly in a roundabout way so as not to fly over occupied Judaea.
The government’s orders also prevent the Princess from making any public statement or attending any official ceremony apart from the inauguration of the “Princess Beatrix Floor” at the Tel Aviv Medical School, which is the official reason for the visit. Princess Beatrix will thus not be able to attend the ceremony for Israel’s war dead and that evening she will be having dinner at the home of the Dutch Ambassador.
The government, apparently in order to avoid unfavorable repercussions in the Arab countries, has asked the Dutch press to play down the visit and Dutch newsmen in Israel are not kept informed of the detailed program of the visit.
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