Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned Friday evening, after he failed to secure new sanctions against Israel over the war in Gaza.
Veldkamp had informed the countrys Parliament he intended to bring in new measures in response to Israels planned offensive in Gaza City and other heavily populated areas but was unable to secure the support of his coalition partners.
The 61-year-old former ambassador to Israel told reporters he felt he was unable to implement policy myself and chart the course I deem necessary.
Opposition politicians had called for a no-confidence vote for the minister, frustrated at what they saw as a lack of action against Israel.
Following Veldkamps resignation, the remaining Cabinet members of his center-right New Social Contract party also quit, leaving the Dutch government in disarray.
In short we are done with it, party leader Eddy Van Hijum said, calling the Israeli governments actions diametrically opposed to international treaties.
The Dutch government already collapsed in June when anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders pulled out of the countrys four-party coalition over a fight about immigration.
The three remaining parties stayed on in a caretaker government until elections could be held in October.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof was set to address Parliament later Friday evening over the crisis.
(AP)
(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)
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