Israeli Honorary Consul Dismissed After Gaza Genocide Remarks
Benno Woosley, the Honorary Consul of Israel in Maastricht, Netherlands, has been removed from his post following his vehement criticisms of Israel’s actions in Gaza, which he described as genocide. Reports indicate that Woosley made these statements during media interviews, prompting significant backlash, reports 24brussels.
According to the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot, Woosley also expressed opposition to the relocation of the Dutch embassy to Jerusalem. He has faced allegations that his remarks have jeopardized diplomatic relations, with an Israeli official noting that the comments sparked anger among rabbis and leaders of both Jewish and Christian organizations.
At over 80 years old, Woosley has been largely inactive and has reportedly faced complaints from notable figures in the Jewish community regarding his controversial viewpoints. In response to the criticism, he has maintained that his comments reflect widely circulated images that raise concerns about Israel’s actions, even amongst its closest Western allies.
In a related development, all ministers from the Dutch party “New Social Contract” resigned from the government after the departure of Foreign Minister Kasper Veldkamp, who resigned over the inability to take further action against Israel within the cabinet. Additionally, the Dutch Parliament voted against recognizing Palestine as a state, a motion supported by opposition parties but ultimately lacking majority backing.
