Overview

• Veldkamp announced his resignation after a cabinet meeting, citing his inability to take significant additional measures to pressure Israel.
• He said his proposed steps faced repeated resistance from colleagues, leaving him without confidence to continue in the post.
• The Netherlands is currently led by a caretaker government following a split with Geert Wilders' PVV, with early elections set for October 29.
• In July, the foreign ministry declared Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir unwelcome in the Netherlands.
• Veldkamp had advocated a partial suspension of the EU‑Israel association agreement, and the Netherlands joined 20 other states in condemning planned settlement expansion in the West Bank.