The Hague - Saba:
The Dutch National Counterterrorism and Security Agency (NCTV) has included the Israeli entity in its list of states posing a threat to Dutch national security, according to a recent official report titled "Threat Assessment by Governmental Actors."
As reported by the Palestinian Shehab Agency on Thursday, Amin Abu Rashid, former head of the Conference of European Palestinians, stated that this report reflects a fundamental shift in the Netherlands' approach to foreign interference. It highlights what he described as "attempts at foreign influence on public opinion and decision-makers," suggesting that the Israeli entity is no longer exempt from such accusations, which have long been directed at other countries.
Abu Rashid explained in his commentary on the report that one of its key points was the Israeli Diaspora Affairs Ministry’s distribution of an unofficial document in Amsterdam following riots linked to fans of the Maccabi "Tel Aviv" team. The document contained the names of several Dutch citizens and was later used in the Dutch parliament to support pro-Israeli proposals, sparking widespread debate about political transparency and foreign influence in the country.
More alarmingly, the report cited what it deemed "direct involvement" by both the Israeli entity and the United States in threatening the International Criminal Court (ICC), based in The Hague. It argued that such threats undermine the ICC’s credibility as an international judicial institution and tarnish the Netherlands' legal reputation as a host country for several international courts.
According to Abu Rashid, observers believe this escalation in the Dutch government’s rhetoric reflects the declining image of the Israeli entity in European circles after years of being considered an "absolute ally." This shift comes amid growing European criticism of Israeli policies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which has prompted some European capitals to reconsider their relations with "Tel Aviv."
The report emphasizes that this inclusion is not solely about security concerns but also reflects a broader struggle between respecting national sovereignty and countering external political pressures. This development marks a pivotal moment in Europe’s relations with the Israeli entity and warrants close monitoring in the coming period.
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