Ben Gvir and Smotrich Attack Netherlands' Decision to Ban Their Entry

SadaNews - Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to the Netherlands' decision to ban their entry into its territory.

Ben Gvir stated: "Terrorists are free, and Jews are banned."

He added: "Even if I am banned from entering all of Europe, I will continue to work for Israel and demand the crushing of Hamas and support for our soldiers."

Smotrich responded to the Netherlands' ban by saying, "What the Dutch and other European countries do not realize is that what is more important than my entry into the Netherlands is that my children, grandchildren, and all Jews around the world can live in the State of Israel safely for decades and centuries to come," according to SadaNews's translation.

He continued: "In the Netherlands and Europe in general, Jews did not live safely at the beginning of the last century. Considering Europe's hypocrisy and the surrender of its leaders to the lies of radical Islamists, coupled with the rise of anti-Semitism there, Jews will not be able to live there safely in the future either."

He added: "I dedicate my life to the future and security of Israel, and I will continue to do so as much as I can, even if it requires standing firmly against the whole world."

This came after the Dutch government announced on Monday evening that it imposed a ban on the entry of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich into its territory, amid the extremist policies of the Israeli government and due to their incitement to violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and calls for ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

Dutch Foreign Minister Hank Veldhuyzen stated that his government decided to consider the ministers as "undesirable persons," explaining that their names have been recorded in the Schengen Area system as "unwelcome foreigners."

He clarified that the decision was made due to their "repeated incitement to settler violence against Palestinians, their continuous support for the expansion of illegal settlements, and their calls for ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip" as part of the Israeli genocide against the enclave.

It is expected that the Israeli ambassador in The Hague, Mudi Ephraim, will be summoned for a formal reprimand at the Dutch Foreign Ministry, where, according to Veldhuyzen, "Israel will once again be urged to change the direction of its policies," emphasizing that "the current situation is intolerable and indefensible," while affirming the "continuation of pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza."

This step indicates the escalation of European movements to confront ongoing Israeli violations, with the Netherlands particularly highlighting its recommendation to suspend Israel's engagement in the European "Horizon" research program, as well as proposing to impose additional trade restrictions on it, should it be confirmed - as stated by Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof - that Israel does not adhere to the commitments associated with this program.