Israel–Netherlands relations

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Israel–Netherlands relations are the diplomatic ties between Israel and the Netherlands. The Netherlands has an embassy in Ramat Gan, an information office in Jerusalem, and two honorary consulates in Eilat and Haifa. Israel has an embassy in The Hague. Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean. Overall, their relations have been friendly, but have cooled somewhat since October 2023. The Netherlands’ status as home to many EU institutions also influences their relationship.

A brief history
- 1947–1949: The Netherlands supported the establishment of a Jewish state and established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1949. It was among the early countries to open an embassy in Jerusalem.
- 1949–1960s: The Netherlands backed Israel in its early years and helped fund support for the country after the 1967 war.
- 1973: During the Yom Kippur War, the Netherlands allowed American aircraft to use its air bases as part of Operation Nickel Grass and supplied military equipment to Israel after an arms embargo from Britain.
- 1980: Following Jerusalem’s status debates, the Dutch government moved its embassy from Jerusalem to The Hague.
- 1982: In the Lebanon War, a Dutch UN peacekeeping unit tried to slow Israeli advances, damaging two Israeli tanks but the Israeli forces still moved forward.
- 1991: During the Gulf War, Patriot missiles were deployed to Israel and Turkey to counter Scud attacks; the Dutch military helped with this effort.
- 1991–1997: The Netherlands helped manage Israel’s relations with the Soviet Union through an Israel interests’ section in Moscow while diplomatic ties were being adjusted.

Recent years and tensions
- After Israel’s Gaza operations, a Dutch court ordered a freeze on some exports of F-35 fighter jets used by Israel, following lawsuits by Dutch humanitarian groups.
- In 2025, large protests in The Hague urged the Dutch government to take firmer action against Israel. A later incident during the Iran–Israel war saw damage to the Dutch embassy but no injuries. The Netherlands then listed Israel as a foreign threat to its national security over concerns about disinformation and other alleged interference.
- In the same period, the Dutch government imposed travel bans on Israeli ministers and recalled the Dutch ambassador to Israel. There were leadership changes in the Dutch government over how to respond to the situation, and public opinion in the Netherlands showed a predominantly unfavorable view of Israel in a Pew survey.

Public opinion
- A Pew Research Center survey in 2025 showed that about 19% of people in the Netherlands viewed Israel favorably, while about 78% viewed it unfavorably. Trust in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also low, with about 19% expressing confidence.

Overall, Israel–Netherlands relations mix practical diplomacy and security cooperation with public debate and disagreements over policy, especially in recent years.