“I see that I am insufficiently able to take meaningful additional measures to increase pressure on Israel,” Veldkamp said after a cabinet debate on possible sanctions against Israel was deadlocked, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.
Last month Veldkamp declared far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich unwelcome in the Netherlands.
On Thursday he said he wanted to take further steps against Israel, but later acknowledged he lacked confidence he could act effectively in the coming weeks or months.
The minister said the steps he had proposed were “seriously discussed” but encountered resistance in successive cabinet meetings.
“I feel constrained in setting the course I consider necessary as foreign minister,” he said.
The Netherlands was among 21 countries that signed a joint declaration on Thursday condemning Israel’s approval of a major West Bank settlement project as “unacceptable and contrary to international law.”
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned on Friday following a cabinet meeting that failed to reach an agreement on imposing sanctions against Israel, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.
