On March 18th Dutch parliament voted for a motion that encourages trade with Israeli companies. The motion was submitted by MP Kees van der Staay (SGP) and his colleague Joel Voordewind (Christian Union). An overwhelming majority in the parliament supported the motion. Aside from traditional pro-Israel parties like PVV (Wilders), SGP, VVD and CU, parties who are nowadays critical of Israel also voted in favor of the motion. Among them Labor (PvdA) and the Christian Democrats (CDA).
Van der Staay submitted the motion after several Dutch companies terminated their cooperation with their Israeli counterparts. Another reason for the motion was the attitude of the Dutch Foreign Ministry that was accused of double speak. The Ministry was consulted by the companies who pulled out of Israel and reportedly influenced the decision to terminate cooperation with Israeli companies.
Dutch FM Timmermans has vehemently denied that his ministry pressured the Dutch companies and pointed out that he only executes a long standing policy of discouraging trade with Israeli settlements. He said that the Dutch government encourages trade with companies in Israel proper.
Van der Staay said that the decision by the parliament is an important and positive change after all the commotion about Dutch boycotts and divestment earlier this year. He declared that trade with Israel and with Israeli companies should be encouraged. In his motion he pointed out that the termination in cooperation with Israeli companies runs contra to Dutch policy and could lead to an atmosphere in which trade with Israel becomes suspicious.
The motion called upon the Dutch government to make clear in a visible and convincing way that it encourages economic relations and cooperation between Dutch and Israeli companies and institutes.