Officials and diplomats sound the alarm about Israeli violations: 'Rutte wants to remain friends with the US' | BNR News |

Rutte tried to hide information about possible violations of war and humanitarian law by Israel

This is an excerpt from De Ochtendspits with presenter Iwan Verrips and sidekick Nina van den Dungen. Our guest is associate professor of political science Mariken van der Velden from the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. There was talk about officials and diplomats raising the alarm about Israel's violations. Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte tried to sweep unwelcome information about possible violations of humanitarian law by Israel under the carpet.

This is evident from a letter from about twenty anonymous officials and diplomats, obtained by NRC. In that letter they write that the Legal Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a request from the Ministry of General Affairs asking: "What can we say so that it appears as if Israel is not committing war crimes?"

Associate professor of political science Mariken van der Velden of the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam is shocked by the letter from officials and diplomats. According to her, it is still conceivable that Rutte tries to frame matters in line with the policy in place, but that Rutte is now at odds with two interests. "He wants to publicize the pro-Israel policy, but in addition there are the violations of human rights." According to Van der Velden, however, the letter has made it clear that the most important thing for Rutte is to 'remain friends with America'.

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NATO TOP JOB

According to officials and diplomats, the request from General Affairs, led by Rutte, would also reveal another interest of Rutte. In the background is that Rutte wants to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as Secretary General of NATO next summer. And to get that position, Rutte must keep the US on friendly terms. In that light, it is important that Israel continues to receive parts for the F-35, for which Woensdrecht plays a key role with US approval.

For many years I read the criminal deeds by long sitting Dutch PM Rutte ... main corporate media of the far-right stayed silent ... now too the Dutch are complicit in war crimes by Israel and the U.S. ... great company for a nation that had high regards for the United Nations, Carnegie's Peace Palace, hosting the ICJ and ICC.

Before VVD leader and Prime Minister Mark Rutte came to power, The Hague was called the City of Peace ... no more.

Dutch officials whistleblow on their prime minister, revealing that the government was aware Israel's been committing war crimes and sought advice on how best to conceal that fact from the public.

Other European officials are duty-bound to do the same to stop a genocide [_link]

— Jonathan Cook (@Jonathan_K_Cook) January 25, 2024