The Dutch Green Left and Labour Party (GL-PvdA), which formed a “unity list” under the leadership of Frans Timmermans, has demanded an embargo on parts used by Israel’s Iron Dome, the country’s air defence system.
Their call came as Israel has been defending itself from Iranian rocket attacks across the country in retaliation to Israeli strikes on Iran.
“Israel is currently the aggressor, if Israel were a victim, we would have a different discussion,” GL-PvdA MP Kati Piri said in a June 19 debate on a motion asking for the parts embargo.
Outgoing foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp stressed that the defence system was crucial and protected civilians.
“People over there are sitting in shelters. People who agree with the Netanyahu government and people who disagree with him,” Veldkamp said.
“I note that GL-PvdA has taken a turn on this issue. It is a turn that we as a cabinet are not going to adopt in any case.”
Piri claimed the Iron Dome was the reason Israel could attack Iran and that it would be afraid to do so if it did not have it.
She said it was part of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attack strategy and that was why the Netherlands should stop selling parts that are being used in the system.
Iran just bombed Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, southern Israel.
I am sure that people will soon march in the streets to protest this, right? pic.twitter.com/hZ5y0clQWa
— Drew Pavlou 🇦🇺🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@DrewPavlou) June 19, 2025
Other parties reacted with outrage and disbelief to the demand.
Geert Wilders, leader of Party for Freedom and a staunch supporter of Israel, was scathing.
“Israel isn’t allowed to defend itself, according to Frans Timmermans’ party. Their Israel-hatred and growing anti-Semitism knows no bounds,” he said on X.
Dilan Yesilgöz, party leader of the VVD, said the proposed embargo would leave Israel unable to protect its innocent citizens. She called the idea “bizarre and indefensible”.
Farmer-Citizen Movement party leader Caroline van der Plas also reacted angrily.
“GL-PvdA has sunk to a moral low today and appears to be firmly radicalised. Innocent civilians in Israel should no longer be protected by GL-PvdA from rockets coming at Israel from seven countries. Crazy, indefensible and life-threatening,” she said.
Other parties said an embargo would be an existential threat for Israel.
Historically, the centre-left PvdA has always supported Israel and the Jewish cause but the Green Left, which has a more radical history, tended to side with the Palestinian cause.
On June 19, Timmermans defended the motion demanding the embargo, agreeing with Piri. The ex- European commissioner said the mood had shifted when Israel attacked Iran on June 13 and escalated the conflict in the Near East in a “reckless manner”.
He said Israel’s air defence system made Netanyahu feel “invulnerable” when attacking other countries, which he added was “totally unacceptable”.
“We need to find a way to signal to Netanyahu that he is on the wrong track, needs to de-escalate and be at the negotiating table,” he said.
In the end, the motion did not receive a majority and was voted down with 99 MPs opposing and 35 approving it.
Next to the GL-PvdA group, only the left-wing Socialist Party, the pro-migrant party DENK and the ecological Party for the Animals were in favour.
Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, is facing heat in Holland as he is accused of planning to “campaign on the European taxpayers’ dime” when he steps down. https://t.co/M11UpGHIoM
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) August 18, 2023
