The Netherlands Foreign Minister, Max Van Der Stoel, commented non-commitally and with obvious caution when asked on a Dutch television program for his reaction to the Israeli rescue operation in Uganda. He refused to say whether he approved or disapproved of the Israeli action, remarking only that it was “unusual.”
The Netherlands-Israel Friendship League immediately sent a telegram to Van Der Stoel expressing its “disappointment” over his lukewarm reaction. Hans Wiegel, leader of the opposition Liberal Party, sent a message of congratulations to the Israeli Ambassador at The Hague in which he expressed his “respect” and feelings of “great joy” at “the rescue of so many persons.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s new ambassador to The Hague, Avraham Kidron, has received thousands of enthusiastic letters, cables and flowers from citizens around the country congratulating Israel on its rescue operation.
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