Israel considering additional steps against Netherlands over trade ban against West Bank products

Israel is considering additional steps against the Netherlands over its decision to ban trade in Israeli products from the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights after a court in The Hague rejected a legal attempt to stop the measure, a diplomatic source said on Wednesday.

According to the source, Israel's policy on the matter has not changed: Israel has acted, is acting, and will continue to act against those who act against it, and diplomatic and economic measures taken against Israel will be met with a response.

The Dutch ban is expected to take effect on September 22. Jerusalem views it in the context of a series of measures promoted by the Netherlands in recent months that Israel has described as hostile. The Dutch government itself has said it intends, through the move, to increase pressure on the Israeli government and avoid economically contributing to the continued expansion of Israeli settlements.

Before adopting the measure nationally, the Netherlands sought to advance similar steps at the European Union level. After failing to secure the required majority, it decided to act independently.

Israel already responded with a practical step when the decision was made in The Hague. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval, decided to remove Dutch representatives from the international support center for Gaza in Kiryat Gat.

Sa'ar's announcement at the time said the decision was made following a "series of anti-Israel measures by the Dutch government," the latest of which was the trade ban. The Dutch Embassy in Israel and the United States, which plays a central role in the Kiryat Gat mechanism, were informed of the decision.

The original announcement also said that the representatives had been asked to leave Israel within a week. The Dutch side later clarified that the two would not be required to leave their other diplomatic posts, but that their participation in the Kiryat Gat center would end.

The Kiryat Gat center, which involves the United States and other countries, coordinates on Gaza and issues related to stabilizing the Gaza Strip and its future. The removal of the Dutch representatives also highlighted one of the tools Israel can use in response to diplomatic measures against it: restricting foreign countries' participation in regional mechanisms that require Israeli consent.

Sa'ar said at the time: "Our clear message: Anyone who acts against Israel will have no foothold in the region. Israel will not allow measures against it to go unanswered."

The Foreign Ministry statement linked the Dutch government's policy to what it described as an "unprecedented wave of antisemitism and boycotts" in the country.

After the court rejected the request to prevent the ban from taking effect, a diplomatic source said Israel is now considering additional measures against the Netherlands beyond the decision already taken regarding Kiryat Gat.

The source did not specify which measures were under consideration, and no additional decision has been announced so far.

Israel considering retaliatory measures against more countries

The Netherlands is not the first country whose representatives have been barred from the mechanism. Israel previously prevented Spain from participating in the Kiryat Gat center amid the diplomatic crisis with Madrid.

Reports later said Israel was considering using the same measure against additional countries. A diplomatic source denied at the time that Israel intended to take action against Germany and Italy, which the source described as friendly countries, and said reports to that effect were "fake."

Israeli officials said at the time that a disagreement with a friendly country does not, by itself, lead to retaliatory measures like those taken against the Netherlands and Spain.

Despite concerns that the Dutch precedent could encourage other governments to follow suit, Israeli diplomatic officials do not currently expect an automatic "domino effect" across Europe.

They said decisions on such matters are largely shaped by domestic political circumstances, including the composition of the government, the balance of power in parliament and the pressures exerted on political leaders in each country.

In their assessment, therefore, the Dutch ban's entry into force does not in itself indicate that other European countries will follow the Netherlands.

Jerusalem is continuing to monitor similar initiatives in other countries and within EU institutions. The volume of trade directly affected by the Dutch ban is relatively limited, while Israeli officials are more concerned that other governments could adopt the approach chosen by The Hague: after failing to secure agreement for the measure at the EU level, the Netherlands decided to impose the restrictions independently.

Pro-Israel demonstration expected on Thursday in Amsterdam

A demonstration in support of Israel and the Jewish community is expected to take place in Amsterdam's Dam Square on Thursday, where opposition to boycotts and sanctions against Israel is also expected to be voiced.

The event was planned before the court decision, but its organizers had already addressed the expected ruling and the trade ban, linking the rally to the public and political climate surrounding Israel in the Netherlands.

Organizers are preparing to bring participants from across the country through a network of about 35 bus pickup points.

Among the announced speakers are SGP party leader and member of parliament Chris Stoffer, Interprovincial Chief Rabbi Binyamin Jacobs, and Jewish and Christian representatives.

The event is also expected to include the unfurling of an Israeli flag covering about 600 square meters and the singing of "Hatikvah." At the same time, a call has been issued for a pro-Palestinian counter-demonstration expected to begin about half an hour before the pro-Israel rally.

The Dutch ban is set to take effect on September 22 unless a legal or diplomatic development changes the situation before then. Israel is also awaiting the completion of discussions over the nature of its response.