Geert Wilders to Press Charges After Israel Travel Plans Leak

Geert Wilders, leader of the Netherlands’ Party for Freedom and the largest faction in the ruling coalition, announced his intention to file criminal charges following the leak of his travel plans to Israel. Wilders, who has been under 24/7 police protection since 2004 due to death threats from Islamic extremists, condemned the leak as a severe breach of security.

“Today, I spoke with the Internal Investigations Department [of the Dutch police]. I will be filing a report because of the leak of my itinerary in Israel,” Wilders stated. The NRC daily published details of his upcoming trip, allegedly after Dutch embassy officials in Israel were informed. “This endangers my safety, as well as that of my security guards. Totally unacceptable,” he added.

The leaked itinerary revealed that Wilders is scheduled to visit Israel from December 8 to 10 at the invitation of Likud Party officials and Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council. The trip aims to provide Wilders with firsthand insight into the geopolitical and security realities in Judea and Samaria.

The disclosure of Wilders’s plans has sparked political friction within the Dutch government. Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, a proponent of a Palestinian state, criticized the trip and pledged to discuss it with the Cabinet. Veldkamp’s own planned visit to Israel was recently canceled by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar due to Veldkamp’s support for International Criminal Court arrest warrants targeting Israeli leaders.

Wilders has long been a staunch supporter of Israel and its claim to the entire Land of Israel from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Having lived in Israel for two years in his youth, he has visited the country more than 40 times. His statements advocating for increased Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria and suggesting Jordan as the natural home for Palestinians have drawn fierce criticism from Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

Following Wilders’s recent election victory, Hamas labeled his remarks as “fascist” and called for international condemnation. Wilders dismissed the criticism with his trademark wit, mocking Hamas’s appeal to international law with a clown emoji in a social media post.

The incident underscores the complexities of Israeli-Dutch relations and highlights the security risks faced by prominent politicians advocating for Israel on the global stage. Wilders’s unwavering support for Israel continues to resonate with his base, while provoking sharp backlash from opponents.

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