Foreign minister Koenders: “situation of Palestinian child prisoners very worrisome”
June 8, 2015
On May 20, 2015 the parliament held a debate on “the situation in Israel and Gaza.” One of the topics discussed was the bad situation of Palestinian children being taken into detention by the Israeli army.
The Netherlands organize at the end of this year a Cooperation Forum at which the economic cooperation between the two countries is central. MP Van Bommel (SP) wanted the fate of Palestinian children in Israeli detention to be a reason to censure Israel within the Cooperation Forum. A motion to that effect (‘calls on the Dutch government to attach consequences to the way in which bilateral relations with Israel will be shaped if the country continues to act in contravention of the Convention on the Rights of the Child”) was discouraged by the minister (” I dissuade this. We are asked to reshape bilateral relations, while precisely in this issue we are to some extend shaping them successfully.”) and ultimately rejected during voting on Tuesday 26th May.
Below the full statement and arguments of minister Koenders for his rejection of the motion:
“I then arrive at the motion to part no. 404 of Mr Van Bommel on the Rights of the Child. In this, noting that Israel acts already for years in violation of the treaty concerning Palestinian children in Israeli custody, the Dutch Government is requested to draw conclusions on the way in which bilateral relations are shaped with Israel if the country continues to act in breach of the Convention the rights of the child. This is an important point in itself, but specifically in this issue the Dutch government has demonstrated to act as “chef de ville” in Israel, meaning the Netherlands advances exactly this topic and acts both as precursor and chair as well.
The situation of Palestinian child prisoners is very worrisome. The impact on the Palestinian community is high, to some extent because of the nightly arrests. On some points we are making progress, and I also want to continue with that. There are for example some reforms that have our distinct attention. I also refer to the letter to the parliament from January last on this subject. The Dutch Human Rights ambassador has also visited Israel regarding this theme. We are actually indeed performing in the direction where Mr. Van Bommel is referring to in the various points of this motion. In February 2014 a number of changes have occurred. They need to be strengthened, for example regarding the nightly arrests and subpoenas, and its reduction.
UNICEF published a second progress report in February 2015. We work in cooperation with UNICEF to improve the situation. The report of the UNICEF highlights two reforms: an exercise in relation to the number of arrests in the West Bank and the entering into force in September 2014 of Military Order 1745, which entails that interrogations are subject to restrictions. The report also refers to the findings of the Human Rights Council in November 2014, which concerns the non-practice of military decrees and the raise of the number of arrests of Palestinian minors who are often firmly put in detention without full procedural rights. The Netherlands is, in comparison to other countries, in the forefront. I agree that it is a small number of reforms, but it is important to persevere. I am also very willing to report to the House about this, for this is obviously not acceptable.”