Dutch PM says deal reached to defuse government crisis after junior minister resigns

A government crisis in the Netherlands has been avoided following a tense emergency meeting, as a cabinet member resigned over comments by the head of a hard-right coalition party about the assailants who attacked Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam last week.

Nora Achahbar unexpectedly quit on Friday as junior finance minister, triggering an emergency meeting in which other cabinet members of her centrist NSC party also threatened to quit.

But Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof later announces his cabinet has reached an agreement, resulting in only the resignation of Achahbar but not of others.

The Moroccan-born Achahbar quit the government after Geert Wilders blamed Moroccans for the violent attacks, saying “we saw Muslims hunting Jews” and added they were fueled by ”Moroccans who want to destroy Jews.” He said those convicted of involvement should be deported if they have dual nationality.