WNAM MONITORING: Dutch Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs Ruben Brekelmans called Wednesday for stronger action from the European Union on Ukraine and Gaza and the West Bank ahead of meetings by the bloc this week.
In a post shared on the US social media company X’s platform, Brekelmans spoke with EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas, emphasizing the need for international pressure and support.
“I call for more support to Ukraine, more pressure on (the Palestinian group) Hamas and Israel to end the catastrophe, and a EU ban on products from illegal settlements,” he said.
The Dutch parliament cut short its summer recess Wednesday to meet with caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof over the political turmoil triggered by the sudden resignation of all ministers from the New Social Contract (NSC) party in protest over the government’s lack of support for Palestine.
Denk party leader Stephan van Baarle said during the debate that he intends to submit a motion of no confidence against the entire caretaker Cabinet, accusing it of having “watched Gaza being destroyed and slaughtered,” according to public broadcaster NOS.
Far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) leader Geert Wilders said he would not support the censure motion unless “good proposals” are made. Lawmakers attacked him over his role in the current turmoil.
Wilders then accused his former coalition partners the NSC, BBB and VVD parties of being unable to do anything without his party.
On Friday, Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned after his proposals for additional measures against Israel were blocked by coalition partners. Following this, his NSC party withdrew all its ministers and state secretaries from the caretaker government.
The departure of the NSC ministers left the remaining ruling parties—the right-wing liberal VVD and the farmers’ party BBB—with only 32 seats and without the support needed to govern.
