Latest news with #NCTV
Euractiv
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
The Netherlands bars two hardline Israeli ministers
The Hague accused the far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of inciting violence against Palestinians, pushing aggressive settlement expansion, and endorsing ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Euractiv is part of the Trust Project Jeremias Lin Euractiv Jul 29, 2025 14:52 3 min. read News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Dutch government on Monday declared the Israeli finance and national security ministers persona non grata only days after a national security report raised concerns about Israeli attempts to influence political discourse in the Netherlands. In a diplomatic move, the Netherlands has barred far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country. The decision makes the Netherlands – a traditionally staunch Israel ally – the second EU country, after Slovenia, to take such a step and is another sign of the dwindling patience European countries have with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. The Hague accused the two ministers of inciting violence against Palestinians, pushing aggressive settlement expansion, and endorsing ethnic cleansing in Gaza. In June, the Netherlands had backed a failed Swedish proposal to impose EU sanctions on the Israeli ministers. The situation in Gaza is 'intolerable and indefensible,' Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp told Dutch daily De Telegraaf . 'It has been agreed to continue to increase pressure on Hamas to achieve a ceasefire." The Dutch government wants both ministers listed as 'undesirable aliens' in the Schengen Information System, which would bar them from entering 25 out of the bloc's 27 countries. "In a place where terrorism is tolerated and terrorists are welcomed, a Jewish minister from Israel is unwanted, terrorists are free, and Jews are boycotted," National Security Minister Ben-Gvir said on X, adding that he would continue to act for Israel even if banned from "all of Europe". The Dutch move comes on the heels of a report by the Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV). Israel is named, the first time, as a country that seeks "to influence political and public opinion abroad, including in the Netherlands," alongside Russia, Turkey, and Iran. Tensions spiked after violent clashes between supporters of Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv football clubs in November 2024. The fallout from those incidents, which included skewed media coverage, was cited in Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs report on antisemitism. The NCTV criticised the way Israel disseminated the report, noting it was not shared through official diplomatic channels, but instead selectively distributed to certain politicians and journalists. Dutch ministries called the method 'unusual' and 'undesirable". 'Individuals mentioned in the [Israeli] report could be subject to intimidation or threats, or, in the most serious cases, be physically attacked,' the Dutch report states. The report also condemned what it described as 'public threats' made by Israeli and US officials against the The Hague-based International Criminal Court. The Dutch move reflects a broader shift across Europe: French President Emmanuel Macron announced France will recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September. Germany, traditionally more cautious, is now organising humanitarian airlifts to Gaza – and Chancellor Friedrich Merz has not ruled out sanctions against Israel. On Monday, the EU executive proposed excluding Israeli institutions from Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research funding programme. (vib)
Gulf Insider
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Netherlands Labels Israel 'Threat To National Security' In Unprecedented Move
The Netherlands has, for the first time, included Israel on a list of states which pose a threat to its national security, according to a report from the Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) – the country's main counterterrorism agency. The report bears the title Assessment of Threats from State Actors. It notes that Israel has made efforts to manipulate and influence public opinion and policy in the Netherlands, via disinformation campaigns. According to the Dutch report, an Israeli ministry circulated a document to journalists and officials in the Netherlands last year, which included personal details of Dutch citizens. This took place after fans of the Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv carried out provocative acts after their team lost a match in Amsterdam in November 2024, triggering tension and clashes with locals. The report by the Dutch agency also noted concerns over threats against the International Criminal Court at The Hague, from both Washington and Tel Aviv. It said these threats could negatively affect the court's work. Israel has long posed a threat to the ICC. According to a report by The Guardian from May last year, Tel Aviv has waged a years-long intimidation campaign against the ICC, which included the 'stalking' and 'threatening' of its officials in a bid to stifle investigations into Israeli war crimes. Since the court issued arrest warrants against Israel's premier and former defense minister last year, Washington has imposed sanctions on the ICC. Israel and the US are not signatories of the 1998 Rome Statute nor members of the ICC. The American Servicemembers' Protection Act of 2002, nicknamed the 'Hague Invasion Act,' authorizes a US president to use 'all means necessary and appropriate' to free any US or allied personnel detained by the ICC. This includes the potential use of military force. The law also restricts US cooperation with and support for the ICC. The Dutch Assessment of Threats from State Actors notes that the Netherlands has a 'special responsibility' to protect the operations of the international legal institutions it hosts. While the NCTV has previously listed Israeli spyware as a concern, this latest report does not include Israel in its espionage section. Israeli spyware has infected the devices of millions across the planet, including journalists and activists. It has also been used as a tool for targeted assassinations.
Middle East Eye
2 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Dutch intelligence report identifies Israel as a foreign threat for first time
The Netherlands has named Israel as a foreign threat to the country's national security for the first time, citing disinformation campaigns endangering the lives of Dutch citizens. A report published by the National Coordinator for Security and Counter-terrorism (NCTV) says that Israel attempted to influence public opinion and politics in the country by circulating documents directly to Dutch journalists and politicians instead of using the official diplomatic channels. The alleged disinformation campaign occurred after the clashes that followed the football match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam last November. Close to 30 people were wounded as Israeli fans were caught on video vandalising property, threatening and assaulting people, as well as chanting racist, anti-Arab slogans. The Israeli authorities branded the riots as antisemitic and ordered two rescue planes to the Netherlands to evacuate the fans. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters A week later, the mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, took back her comments describing the violence as a "pogrom", saying that Israel "bypassed" Dutch authorities regarding the details of the events and their framing. The NCTV report said that the document circulated by Israel-affiliated agencies also contained "unusual and unwanted personal details" about Dutch citizens. The country's ministries of justice, security and foreign affairs warned that these individuals could face threats, harassment and even physical attacks. The NCTV further voiced concerns over mounting threats from both Israel and the US toward the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The report said that this could potentially disrupt the court's work. Last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over their role in alleged war crimes in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. ICC lawyer linked to Netanyahu advisor warned Khan to drop war crimes probe or be 'destroyed' Read More » The court has since faced significant pressure from the US and Israel to drop the investigation. The Netherlands hosts key international legal institutions, such as the International Court of Justice, and bears a special responsibility to protect them from external influence. The NCTV report comes as the Dutch government - a traditional Israeli ally - has become increasingly critical of the country over its war on Gaza and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave. Along with Ireland and Spain, the Netherlands has urged the European Union to reevaluate its ties with Israel due to its war on Gaza, accusing the country of violating the human rights provisions in the EU-Israel association agreement. In February 2024, The Hague court of appeals ordered the Dutch government to stop the export of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel. The court raised concerns that the weapons may be used to breach international humanitarian law. However, despite the court's decision, there have been reports that the Netherlands is still supporting the supply chain of Israel's version of the F-35 fighter jet.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Netherlands lists Israel as security threat for first time
ROTTERDAM: The Netherlands has added Israel to its list of foreign states posing a security threat for the first time, according to a report by the Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV). The document, titled *Assessment of Threats from State Actors*, highlights Israel's alleged attempts to manipulate Dutch public opinion and political decisions through disinformation. One key incident involved an Israeli ministry circulating a document to Dutch journalists and politicians through unofficial channels last year. The report stated that the document contained 'unusual and unwanted personal details' about Dutch citizens, following tensions at a pro-Maccabi Tel Aviv rally in Amsterdam. The NCTV also raised concerns over threats from Israel and the US against the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, warning that such actions could disrupt its operations. As host to major legal institutions, the Netherlands emphasized its 'special responsibility' to protect them from external interference. While past NCTV reports flagged Israeli spyware risks, this latest assessment did not explicitly mention Israel in its espionage section. - Bernama-Anadolu
