Netherlands names Israel as a SECURITY THREAT, marking a shift in diplomatic ties

By kevinhughes // 2025-07-31

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The Netherlands has officially labeled Israel as a security threat, citing concerns over disinformation campaigns, informal political influence and destabilizing actions — marking the first time a traditional ally has been deemed a direct risk.
A Dutch security report (NCTV) alleges Israel circulated documents directly to Dutch officials and journalists, bypassing diplomatic channels, and included sensitive personal details that risked harassment. The report cited violent clashes involving Israeli football fans in Amsterdam as an example of resulting instability.
The report warns that Israel and the U.S. are undermining international legal institutions like the ICC in The Hague, particularly after arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over Gaza war crimes. The Netherlands emphasizes protecting these institutions from external paralysis.
Israel joins nations like Russia and China in Dutch threat assessments for employing similar destabilization tactics. The Netherlands and other EU states (e.g., Ireland, Spain) urge reevaluating ties with Israel over human rights violations in Gaza.
While diplomatic channels remain open, tensions persist over Israel's actions in Gaza and its influence in Europe. The Netherlands' report reflects a broader European trend to address non-traditional security threats, signaling a shift in modern diplomacy.

In a significant shift in foreign policy, the Netherlands has officially designated Israel as a security threat, marking the first time the country has named a traditional ally as a direct risk to its national security. This decision comes after the release of a comprehensive report by the National Coordinator for Security and Counter-terrorism (NCTV). The report published on July 17 highlights Tel Aviv's alleged use of disinformation campaigns and informal channels to influence Dutch politics and public opinion. The NCTV report details an incident following a soccer match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam last November. Israeli fans of the right-wing soccer club were involved in violent clashes, vandalizing property and chanting racist slogans. The report states that Israel attempted to sway public opinion by circulating documents directly to Dutch journalists and politicians, bypassing official diplomatic channels. This approach, according to the report, included "unusual and unwanted personal details" about Dutch citizens, potentially putting them at risk of threats and harassment. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema initially described the violence as a "pogrom" but later retracted her statement, citing Israel's lack of transparency and direct engagement with Dutch authorities. The NCTV report underscores the potential for such actions to "harm the social and political stability" of the Netherlands. The report also raises concerns about mounting threats from both Israel and the U.S. toward the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. The court has faced significant pressure from Washington and Tel Aviv to drop the investigation. (Related: U.S. and Israel slam ICC for issuing arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.) The Netherlands, home to key international legal institutions, bears a special responsibility to protect them from external influence. The NCTV report emphasizes that actions by Israel and the U.S. could "undermine the courts' operations or even completely paralyze them," posing "a direct threat to the international legal order."

NCTV report reflects broader security concerns

The designation of Israel as a security threat is part of a broader analysis of international threats, which also includes countries like Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and Turkey. The report highlights Israel's placement alongside these nations, all of which are assessed to use similar strategies to influence and destabilize foreign governments and societies. Dutch authorities stress that the report does not necessarily imply immediate diplomatic action against Israel. However, it reflects a growing concern over Israel's active foreign policy and security-related influence within Europe. The Netherlands, along with Ireland and Spain, has urged the European Union to reevaluate its ties with Israel due to its actions in Gaza, accusing the country of violating human rights provisions in the EU-Israel association agreement. Amsterdam' decision to name Israel as a security threat comes amidst ongoing tensions over the Gaza war and Israel's pressure on international legal institutions. Analysts believe that the deteriorating relationship between the two countries is also a result of the Netherlands' increasingly critical stance toward Israel's actions. Despite the tensions, diplomatic channels remain open, and talks are ongoing to reduce tensions. The Netherlands' latest threat report is a clear example of how European security authorities are broadening their assessments of potential threats, ensuring that indirect and informal influence methods are also brought to attention. As the international community monitors developments, the Netherlands' move is seen as a significant step in addressing the complexities of modern diplomacy and the evolving nature of security threats in the 21st century. Watch this video about the ICC calling for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This video is from the Fritjof Persson channel on Brighteon.com.

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NCTV report reflects broader security concerns

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