Dutch FM slams Erdogan over anti-Zionist comment

The Dutch foreign minister lambasted Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s derogatory comments about Zionism, less than a week before Erdogan’s scheduled arrival in Amsterdam for an official state visit.

“The statement is unacceptable and I fully understand that the reaction in Israel has been one of dismay,” Frans Timmermans said Friday in a formal answer to written questions by Dutch members of parliament.

Last month, Erdogan sparked international condemnation when he described Zionism as a “crime against humanity” on a par with anti-Semitism and fascism. The United States, the European Union, and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon took Erdogan to task for his comments, as did numerous Jewish and international human rights groups.

“These kind of statements are damaging to a constructive climate for peace in the region and are hindering normalization of relations between Turkey and Israel,” Timmermans said. “The Netherlands remains a proponent of better relations between Turkey and Israel and will continue to strive for this.”

Timmermans, who become the Netherlands’ foreign minister less than half a year ago, said that his government’s position “has been made clear to Turkey” on both “a political and civil servants’ level.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also censured his Turkish counterpart for “a dark and mendacious statement, the likes of which we thought had passed from the world.”

Erdogan is expected to visit the Netherlands on Thursday.

Recently, the Netherlands’ army deployed batteries of Patriot missiles in eastern Turkey, in the framework of NATO’s protection of the country against threats from Syria.

The Netherlands is one of Israel’s closest allies in Europe, yet the center-right government of Mark Rutte earlier this month become the second country on the continent, after the United Kingdom, to recommend that retailers label products from beyond the Green Line as such. According to a directive issued by the Dutch Economic Affairs Ministry, such products should indicate that they originate from a “Israeli settlement in the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem, the West Bank or in Palestinian territories.”

Explaining the measure, Timmermans told parliament that Israeli settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace. “We do not want to contribute to the economy of the illegal settlements,” he said. However, the government directive speaks only of correct labeling; the import and sale of settlement products remains legal, in accordance with EU legislation.

Israel and Turkey enjoyed close diplomatic and business relations for years until a gradual deterioration accelerated due to the May 2010 Gaza flotilla incident, in which clashes between pro-Palestinian activists and IDF troops aboard the Mavi Marmara ship resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish citizens and injuries to several Israeli commandos.

Relations between Ankara and Jerusalem have since remained sour, with Turkey demanding an apology, and compensation for the families of those killed, as a prerequisite for the warming of ties.