Dutch King Visits Hague Synagogue, Condemns Antisemitism

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands visited the Beth Jehoeda synagogue in The Hague to express solidarity with the country's Jewish community amid a sharp rise in antisemitism. During his visit, a congregant described the difficulties faced by Jews in the Netherlands, stating, "My son cannot wear a kippah, and I cannot take a taxi to the synagogue. We can no longer hang mezuzahs on our doorposts." The King acknowledged this, remarking, "Essentially, you can no longer live an open Jewish life." He urged the "silent majority" of Dutch citizens to support the Jewish community and protect them from attacks. The King explicitly stated, "The Jews of the Netherlands are not responsible for the actions of Israel."

This visit occurs against a backdrop of strained relations between Israel and the Netherlands. The Netherlands has banned the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. In response, Israel revoked the diplomatic status of employees at the Dutch consulate in East Jerusalem.