Dutch gov't kills EU resolution on Israeli human rights violations

The Dutch government has single-handedly torpedoed a planned European Union resolution in the UN Human Rights Council for merely highlighting Israeli human rights abuses, the weekly news magazine Der Spiegel reported Wednesday. The Dutch government nullified a plan by eight European Union member states in the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to draft a statement on the human rights violations in Israel. While, initially all eight EU members agreed on the final draft, the Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal who is Jewish and has an Israeli wife, demanded major last-minute changes to the statement. This included omitting references to a two-state solution, Israeli arrest of human rights activists and the ongoing Israeli house demolitions in the occupied East Jerusalem and West Bank. While Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic backed the Dutch demands, Sweden, Austria, Romania and Slovenia termed them unacceptable. The Netherlands has long been known as Israel’s closest ally in Europe amid Rosenthal efforts to deepen ties with Tel Aviv regime. Dubbed 'The Israeli best friend in Europe' by the Dutch press, the Rosenthal has essentially stifled any criticism of Israel. Speaking at an international conference in Israel last year, Rosenthal did not beat around the bush by saying, “The Dutch government doesn't appreciate Israel bashing and Israel bashing shouldn't be acceptable to anyone.' Before taking office as the country's foreign minister, Rosenthal had reportedly told the Dutch parliament that his priority was to bring an end to 'Israel bashing.' In his attempt to muzzle criticism of Israel, Rosenthal issued a stern warning to a Dutch non-governmental organisation, ICCO, which provided funding for an Internet site called the Electronic Intifada which reports on Israeli human rights violations. The Hague had also actively opposed Palestine's independence bid in the UN, along with Berlin and Washington.