The agreement opens the door to moving the Dutch Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
May 16. () –
The government coalition of the Netherlands, led by Geert Wilders’ party, Party for Freedom (PVV), has agreed to maintain economic and military aid to Ukraine, according to the agreement made public this morning and despite the far-right’s well-known position against it. to send military material and to receive Ukrainian refugees.
“The Netherlands will continue to support Ukraine politically, militarily, financially and morally against Russian aggression. We will continue to participate in increasing NATO’s capacity,” reads the 26-page document, which adds that political and military cooperation with the Atlantic Alliance is “primary” for its international security.
He also stressed that Amsterdam “remains a constructive partner in the European Union, which is working with other countries to achieve greater strategic independence and cooperation in transport, production and industry in the field of defense.” However, he added that expenses for military and humanitarian support to Ukraine and the internal reception of Ukrainian refugees in the country have not been included in the expenditure framework for the moment.
“Together with the other affected countries, we continue to do everything we can to ensure the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability for the attack on MH17, including continuing to work to ensure that the perpetrators and others responsible do not escape punishment and responsibility”, reads the document, a section that reveals a possible distance towards the Russian authorities.
Wilders, four years after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula, traveled to Moscow and met with senior Russian officials, which was condemned by relatives of the Dutch victims of the downing of MH17, who blamed him for ignoring Moscow’s role. in the catastrophe.
Also at the international level, but moving to the Middle East, the text between the four coalition parties has stated that “it is investigating when it will be able to move the Embassy to Jerusalem at the appropriate time.” “The Netherlands supports the right to exist and the security of the State of Israel,” he stressed, before adding that his decision is framed “taking into account solutions to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and diplomatic interests.”
The initiatives of countries that announce the opening of diplomatic headquarters in Jerusalem are decisions that are highly questioned in the international community, understanding that it is an explicit recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the disputed city and that it contravenes the peace solution based on two states.
INTERNAL POLITICS
The coalition agreement, called ‘Hope, Courage and Pride’, is divided into ten chapters that will later be drawn up by the future cabinet and which focus on carrying out the strictest asylum package to date with the abolition of the asylum permit for an indefinite period towards a temporary residence.
In the area of the country’s security, they have opted to strengthen the fight against organized crime and have announced more severe penalties for serious crimes such as terrorism and violent and sexual crimes.
They have also included the reduction of mandatory health insurance by more than half and the reduction of income tax. Also at an economic level, they will reduce tax burdens for entrepreneurs. Among other measures, they have advocated increasing public housing and improving accessibility to rural areas. They want to do “everything possible” to adapt the primary sector to European directives and respect existing climate policy objectives.
Wilders, the main winner of the November 2023 parliamentary elections, left the door open earlier this year to “help” Ukraine as a proposal to try to convince other political formations to achieve a coalition government, claiming that he was “prepared “to put aside certain ideas to unravel the prolonged process.
The PVV obtained 37 deputies in the last November elections, called after the fall of Mark Rutte’s government due to differences over migration. Several parties initially opposed negotiating with the extreme right, but over time some have reversed their refusal.
Now, the coalition also includes Rutte’s People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD, 24 seats, conservative); to New Social Contract (NSC, 20 seats, center-right) and to the Farmers-Citizens Movement (BBB, 7 seats, extreme right).
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