The Netherlands has rejected calls by Israel to declare the international campaign calling for the boycott of Israeli products, illegal.
On Thursday the Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said that the Dutch government had told Tel Aviv that joining the campaign was an issue of free speech, to which the Dutch people are entitled.
Press TV reports:
BYPASS THE CENSORS
Sign up to get unfiltered news delivered straight to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe any time. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use
Netherlands is the second country in the European Union to have announced its support for people’s right to join the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.
“Statements or meetings concerning BDS are protected by freedom of expression and freedom of assembly as enshrined in the Dutch Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights,” Koenders said.
Dutch Ambassador to Israel Gilles Beschoor Plug defended Koender’s remarks, saying that joining the campaign in Holland “is not illegal and therefore it falls within the limits of freedom.”
“As long as what one says is not illegal you are free to say it,” he added.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nachshon denounced the decision, saying there had to be “limits” on the concept of freedom of speech.
Israel has been pressuring the US and European countries to introduce legislation and take other repressive measures to confront the BDS movement.
In February, Britain introduced new rules, banning local authorities and public-sector organizations from boycotting Israel and pledging severe penalties for violators.
Banking behemoth Credit Mutuel also shut down the account of La Campagne BDS France at the request the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF) last week.
Sweden, however, supported the right to join the BDS in March 2016, saying the movement is “a civil society movement” and that “governments should not interfere in civil society organization views.”
Earlier this month, more than 300 groups in Europe urged the EU to hold Israel accountable for its human rights violations and join the global campaign for boycott of Israeli products.
The 352 signatories to a letter included human rights and aid organizations, church groups, trade unions and political parties from across the continent, including France, Germany, Norway and Belgium.
The BDS movement is currently asking people to add their names to an appeal to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to take necessary measures to protect those who campaign for Palestinian rights.
Niamh Harris
Israel is a trapped rat using all its intelligence to keep her sick co-dependent relationships going. Her use of HOLOCAUST GUILT GAMES that has been used on her enablers like America and its so called free world partners to shake down us all down.
Also, Israel and America is the real problem and then comes certain groups within Islam. It’s 70/30. Cut off Israel and make her make some adjustments and be honest for a change. Get rid of this sick marriage.
Israel is a trapped rat using all its intelligence to keep her sick co-dependent relationships going. Her use of HOLOCAUST GUILT GAMES that has been used on her enablers like America and its so called free world partners to shake down us all down.
Also, Israel and America is the real problem and then comes certain groups within Islam. It’s 70/30. Cut off Israel and make her make some adjustments and be honest for a change. Get rid of this sick marriage.
Sick to death of Israel trying to steer US foreign policy. The American people clearly said DO NOT INVADE SYRIA but the ISRAELI LOBBY AIPAC wished for it to happen so the fcking Pentagon goes over Obamna’s head and starts a 600 million dollar rebel program. Who do you guys at the Pentagon work for? Not America or our USA soldiers. Move your asses to Tel Aviv and let America start over. The US gun owners, and militias, and US start up defense companies will defend our homeland against all the enemies you have created for us. Go bow down to your precious in Israel.
Sick to death of Israel trying to steer US foreign policy. The American people clearly said DO NOT INVADE SYRIA but the ISRAELI LOBBY AIPAC wished for it to happen so the fcking Pentagon goes over Obamna’s head and starts a 600 million dollar rebel program. Who do you guys at the Pentagon work for? Not America or our USA soldiers. Move your asses to Tel Aviv and let America start over. The US gun owners, and militias, and US start up defense companies will defend our homeland against all the enemies you have created for us. Go bow down to your precious in Israel.
What a sad decision of BDS movement rather, these groups should have strong enough to prepare, manufacture, sales all those products, material & educational Institution that were champion by the Jews community. It is eminent that almost all the products from consumer products to a soap, bathing & sanitation materials, clothes, shoes, well education institute & universities of more than 70% of it are owned by these Jewish community. Even, software, IT, Face book,& so on are owned by Jewish community. Now, my suggestion is rather going for a destructive competition better go for constructive competition by manufacturing, controlling such Industries, companies, schools, colleges, university better than these Jewish community if you have potential, then automatically their products will be condemn by all. Then, definitely it has an effect. It is very sad affairs that Muslim world having much wealth & resourcefulness to do it rather fighting each other Shia & Sunni thoughts. Still as on today since more than 14 hundred these Muslim scholars not able to conclude the day of sighting moon when turns comes to during the month of Ramadan or other month like Moharam, whereas, the the European astronauts reached Moon, trying to reach Mars planet that to guided by the science mentioned in Koran & other Islamic literature . What it has noticed by such BDS movement is nothing but you are marketing the Jewish products.
What a sad decision of BDS movement rather, these groups should have strong enough to prepare, manufacture, sales all those products, material & educational Institution that were champion by the Jews community. It is eminent that almost all the products from consumer products to a soap, bathing & sanitation materials, clothes, shoes, well education institute & universities of more than 70% of it are owned by these Jewish community. Even, software, IT, Face book,& so on are owned by Jewish community. Now, my suggestion is rather going for a destructive competition better go for constructive competition by manufacturing, controlling such Industries, companies, schools, colleges, university better than these Jewish community if you have potential, then automatically their products will be condemn by all. Then, definitely it has an effect. It is very sad affairs that Muslim world having much wealth & resourcefulness to do it rather fighting each other Shia & Sunni thoughts. Still as on today since more than 14 hundred these Muslim scholars not able to conclude the day of sighting moon when turns comes to during the month of Ramadan or other month like Moharam, whereas, the the European astronauts reached Moon, trying to reach Mars planet that to guided by the science mentioned in Koran & other Islamic literature . What it has noticed by such BDS movement is nothing but you are marketing the Jewish products.
There would be no BDS movement if Israel would adhere to the Geneva conventions, and to the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
There would be no BDS movement if Israel would adhere to the Geneva conventions, and to the UN Declaration of Human Rights.