The Dutch Government on Israeli Settlements in Palestine

Abstract

This thesis analyses the Dutch government's discourse on Israeli settlements in Palestine from 2012-2023. A development in discourse of governments of Rutte II, Rutte III and Rutte IV is researched, to be able to say something about the Dutch government's foreign policy on Israeli settlements in Palestine. For more than 10 years, it has been continuously emphasised that the Dutch government sees Israeli settlements as illegal and against international law. However, the governments didn’t take measures or implement sanctions to force the Israeli government to stop building and expanding settlements. Meanwhile, the Dutch government does keep portraying itself as an important friend of Israel and ally to Palestine. The governments tried to position themselves as neutral partner, to be able to contribute to the peace process. The reality is that Israel keeps expanding its settlements in Palestine and that the Dutch government hasn't been able, or hasn't been trying, to stop this.