Two Israeli Ministers Banned from Entering Schengen Zone

Kokcha News Agency: The Dutch Foreign Ministry has announced that Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have been classified as “undesirable persons” and will no longer be allowed entry into the Schengen Zone, which includes 29 European countries.

In a statement to Anadolu Agency, a spokesperson for the Dutch Foreign Ministry confirmed that the ministers’ names have been added to the Schengen Information System (SIS), allowing border authorities in member countries to deny them entry.

Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel informed the Dutch Parliament of the decision in a letter, which also addressed the European Union’s insufficient actions against Israel and the government’s stance on the International Association of Genocide Scholars’ (IASG) recognition of genocide.

Van Weel emphasized that due to a lack of sufficient support at the EU level, there has been no progress in suspending the trade chapter of the EU-Israel Association Agreement or imposing sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinians.

The Dutch Foreign Minister also noted that the term “genocide” is a serious accusation and that the government is cautious in using it. He mentioned that the issue of alleged genocide in Gaza is currently being examined by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in a case brought by South Africa against Israel, and the Dutch government will await the court’s ruling.

This decision follows a July 29 statement by former Dutch Foreign Minister Kaspar Veldkamp, who declared Smotrich and Ben-Gvir as “undesirable persons” and added them to the list of undesirable foreigners. Veldkamp had described the situation in Gaza as “unbearable and indefensible” and summoned the Israeli ambassador to The Hague for discussions.