NSC walkout over Israel policy deepens political turmoil in Netherlands

All members of the New Social Contract (NSC) party have resigned from the caretaker government over the country's position on Israel, plunging the Netherlands into further political turmoil.

The move followed the resignation of the country's Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp on Friday, a decision he took after failing to secure new sanctions against Israel over its war in Gaza.

The Dutch cabinet was already in a caretaker capacity, and the resignation of the NSC ministers will make no significant difference to that status.

The remaining coalition partners, the VVD and BBB, criticised the NSC's departure, with VVD Deputy Prime Minister Sophie Hermans calling the decision "irresponsible."

Prime Minister Dick Schoof, who cancelled a planned trip to Ukraine to deal with the crisis, said in a statement to the House of Representatives that he respected the departure of the NSC ministers, before adding that "we deeply regret it".

A debate on the current political situation is expected to take place early next week.

Israel's actions 'diametrically opposed to international treaties'

Veldkamp resigned after he was unable to secure the support of his coalition partners over new policies towards Israel.

He had wanted to introduce measures against it — including a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories — in response to Israel's planned offensive in Gaza City and other heavily populated areas in the enclave.

The 61-year-old former ambassador to Israel told reporters of his frustration about failing “to implement policy myself and chart the course I deem necessary".

“In short we are done with it,” party leader Eddy Van Hijum said, calling the Israeli government’s actions “diametrically opposed to international treaties".

Dutch Defence Minister Robin Brekelmans has now taken over as acting foreign minister.

On Saturday, Dutch MPs voted not to take further steps against on Israel. A proposed ban on the purchase of weapons from Israel and a motion to recognise Palestine both failed.

The NSC walkout came two months after the Dutch government collapsed when anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders pulled out of the country’s four-party coalition over a disagreement about immigration policy.