Caspar Veldkamp and Eight Dutch Ministers

In late August, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned over his government’s refusal to take stronger measures against Israel following the latter’s renewed military attacks on Gaza.

Eight other members of the Dutch cabinet—all, like Veldkamp, members of the New Social Contract (NSC) party—resigned in frustration as well. Those resignations vacated ministry positions in Social Affairs, Interior, Education, and Health, as well as state secretaries covering Legal Protection, Taxes, Allowances, and Foreign Trade.

Veldkamp has more familiarity with on-the-ground realities in Israel than many politicians, having served as the Netherlands’ ambassador to Israel from 2011 to 2015 (Netanyahu was Prime Minister then, too). At that time, the Netherlands was Israel’s fifth-largest trading partner, and as of 2024, it was the fourth largest importer of Israeli goods.

Veldkamp tendered his resignation after proposals to boycott goods from Israeli settlements and ban Dutch arms purchases from Israel went nowhere. He described having “insufficient confidence [that he would have] the space in the coming weeks, months, or even a year to chart the course I deem necessary.” While apparently feeling compelled to reiterate that he is a “friend of Israel,” Veldkamp is not afraid to openly declare that he “disagree[s] with the current government’s policy and conduct in Gaza.”

Imagine what might happen if more politicians around the world were willing to stand up to the criminal syndicate running Israel.