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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon speaking to reporters at UN headquarters earlier this month. (AP) Last update - 04:16 22/01/2008 Dutch FM says Israel unfairly singled out for criticism by UN By Cnaan Liphshiz , Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Gaza, UN, Israel, Dutch FM Visiting Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen told Haaretz Monday that the singling out of Israel for criticism in international forums was unfair. "It is not acceptable to focus on Israel time after time, while other countries like Sudan do not receive any reference whatsoever at the United Nations Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly in New York," Verhagen said in an interview. Advertisement "I would like to set the record straight on Israel." Interviewed in his suite at Jerusalem's King David Hotel, the Dutch foreign minister said he has pursued "a more internationally balanced approach" to Israel and has conditioned Dutch support for resolutions criticizing Israel upon condemnations for Hamas' actions. Describing himself as a friend of Israel who feels "a close personal attachment" to its people, Verhagen added he did not always see eye to eye with Jerusalem. "Friends can speak freely about concerns and differences. In my talk with [Foreign Minister Tzipi] Livni I mentioned the need to observe human rights and dismantle outposts," he said. Verhagen also said he believes that the people of Gaza "should not be collectively punished" and that "choking all economic activity there would only radicalize them and create more attacks on both sides. "In my meetings with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Livni I discussed the possibility of reopening the borders so the export of agricultural export could take place." Asked whether the Netherlands' support for private business initiatives in Gaza, mainly in agriculture, would help Hamas, the minister said: "Hamas concerns me. It's important Palestinian civilians realize that we recognize the difficult situation in Gaza, and that we want to help." Supporting agriculture, he said, is one of the ways of doing so. A member of the ruling Christian Democratic Appeal party, the minister said his cabinet "would never negotiate with Hamas for as long as it calls for the destruction of Israel and as long as it doesn't give up on violence as a tool." Although some of the CDA's coalition partners have called for opening ties to Hamas, Verhagen said the Netherlands "should never give a veneer of legitimacy to the shelling of civilians and blowing up of buses - and this is the opinion of both the government and the majority of the Dutch parliament." As for Israel's image in Europe, he said, "there is still mistrust on the part of few of my European colleagues but the implementation of Israel's obligations in the U.S. road map for peace, such as halting the expansion of settlements and dismantling outposts, would make a big difference in this respect." As part of his visit to the region, Verhagen will also travel to Syria. "By participating in the Annapolis peace summit, Syria made a choice to belong to the negotiations. It cannot at the same time participate in anti-Israel events, and I will make this absolutely clear to the Syrians," he said. Turning to Dutch internal issues, the foreign minister noted that his government was bracing itself for the screening of a provocative, anti-Islam film by right-wing Dutch MP Geert Wilders. "Freedom of speech doesn't give anyone the right to insult people," Verhagen said, noting there were concerns of a violent response to the film, similar to the riots which followed the publication of cartoons of Mohammed by a Danish newspaper two years ago. "Clearly, our embassies abroad have to prepare for such concerns," he said. "If the government's position is not in line with the film we will make it explicit that we don't agree with it. We hope that our partners in the peace process will consider our opinions, and not the opinions of one person named Wilders." Related articles: UN warns of humanitarian crisis as Israel seals Gaza crossings EU warns Israel not to impose 'collective punishment' in Gaza Rights groups appeal to court over Gaza fuel cuts ANALYSIS: Israel's real intention behind sanctions on Gaza Strip IDF: 7 arms smuggling tunnels found under Gaza-Egypt border Bookmark to del.icio.us   L.A.-bound The Israeli film "Beaufort" has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Film. Virtual trees The JNF takes tree-planting online for Tu B'Shvat during the shmita year.   1.   Freedom of speech DOES give you the right to insult people, fool 04:11  |  McQueen 22/01/08   2.   Insult doesn`t give anyone the right to attack people,burn embass 04:48  |  Genuine Tosefta 22/01/08   3.   He`s shaking in his boots 05:33  |  Judith 22/01/08   4.   Nonsense, if Amsterdam was hit with 4,000 mortars... 07:16  |  David 22/01/08   5.   Israel unfairly singled out for criticism by UN 07:36  |  Free Gilad Shalit 22/01/08   6.   UN A Moslem top heavy travesty.Holland has every reason to worry. 07:51  |  PETER SM 22/01/08   7.   To all biased minds 08:07  |  Ahmed 22/01/08   8.   What is this? 08:08  |  Shtarka 22/01/08   9.   A question: 08:39  |  Maki 22/01/08   10.   Maxime Verhagen is in denial 09:05  |  John 22/01/08   11.   bush failed to close down the un a mistake for the future 09:05  |  v hardman 22/01/08   12.   What a disgusting Dutch Foreign Minister 09:39  |  Dutch 22/01/08   13.   The Hilarity 09:57  |  Paulo 22/01/08   14.   re: David 10:02  |  Paulo 22/01/08   15.   Netherlands is hijacked by Christian fundamentalists. 10:03  |  Dutch Dirk 22/01/08   16.   And he also fails to mention the wall. 10:05  |  John 22/01/08   17.   Dutch Prime Minister statements 10:46  |  Spaniard 22/01/08   18.   With friends like this 11:07  |  Natallie Durson 22/01/08   19.   Did the Dutch Give Nazis fuel and aid during the war? 11:11  |  Yonatan 22/01/08   20.   #15 dutch dirk says the average dutchman has an opinion ? 11:11  |  v hardman 22/01/08   21.   For all "Humanitarians" against Israel, read this article 11:15  |  Yoel 22/01/08   22.   #15 The average Dutchman does not exist 11:40  |  Edith 22/01/08   23.   Lakshmi 12:17  |  He`s on the dole 22/01/08   24.   Voice of the people 12:45  |  manny.b 22/01/08   25.   # 15 Dutch Dirk 13:00  |  B. Betonsloper 22/01/08   26.   Sick and Tired 13:09  |  Steve 22/01/08   27.   No other media will report this 13:15  |  SystemF 22/01/08   28.   14: Paulo`s back and lying 13:34  |  David Teich 22/01/08   29.   #14, paulo, in response to David`s post 13:55  |  J 22/01/08   30.   kol hakavod - holland! 14:01  |  Michelle 22/01/08   31.   Watch the anti-Zionists squirm! 14:04  |  Nik Miller 22/01/08   32.   Watch the anti-Zionists squirm! 14:05  |  Nik Miller 22/01/08   33.   To Spanjard: nice try 19:51  |  John 22/01/08   34.   33: An other idiot named John... 12:57  |  David Teich 23/01/08   35.   To John 33 21:41  |  Spanaird 23/01/08

Today Online 200,000 Gazans flood into Egypt as border breached Responses: 357 PM: Gazans can't expect calm while rockets hit Israel Responses: 97 Burston: Qassam rockets as collective punishment Responses: 57 Amira Hass: Gaza siege reminds world Israel is the aggressor Responses: 77 Israel, U.S. to boycott UN rights council meeting on Gaza Responses: 94 Rosner's Domain Who's better for Israel, Clinton or McCain? Obama: Israel was forced to close Gaza (WTR) Actor Jon Voight: Every Jew must vote for Giuliani (WTR) New poll: How important is Israel in the 2008 election? Domain's Guest: "all Jews are responsible for one another" More Headlines 21:37 PM: Gazans can't expect normal lives while rockets hit Israel 18:36 Some 200,000 Gazans stream into Egypt as militants blast border wall 19:31 State: Migron outpost to be evacuated within six months 19:30 Israeli tennis star Shahar Pe'er advances to Australian Open finals 17:34 German hip-hop artist thrown off reality show over Hitler salute 21:28 Ex-chief justice calls on MKs, ministers to oppose Friedmann's reforms 19:10 Iranian leaders vow to follow nuclear path despite sanctions 12:24 Father of terror victim slams Olmert for letting PA try the killers 16:04 90-year-old woman in critical condition after house robbery Previous Editions Select Day 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan

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