Israel on Sunday gave Dutch diplomats serving in Ramallah seven days to return their Israeli-issued diplomatic credentials, retaliating after a Dutch ban on goods from Israeli businesses in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights went into effect.

Their diplomatic privileges granted by Israel will expire at the end of that period, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced on X.

“If the Netherlands wishes to continue representing its interests with the Palestinians,” Sa’ar wrote in his statement, “it may do so from Palestinian Authority territory, rather than from the territory of the State of Israel.”

“Israel will not ignore measures intended to harm it,” Sa’ar continued. “Any country that acts in a hostile and unilateral manner against Israel will lose influence and relevance in the region.”

Sa’ar also accused the Dutch government of failing to seriously address “growing antisemitism and incitement” in the country, and claimed its “anti-Israel policies” were fueling the phenomenon.

“It’s a dramatic step,” said an Israeli official of Sa’ar’s announcement.

The move won’t force the closure of the mission, but it will strip the diplomats of their ability to move freely through the West Bank, and will potentially expose them to prosecution if they meet Palestinians involved with terrorism.

The diplomatic move came days after the Netherlands began enforcing its new restrictions on settlement goods. Passengers who recently arrived in Amsterdam on an El Al flight from Tel Aviv reported that Dutch customs officials searched their luggage for........

© The Times of Israel