Israel has revoked the diplomatic status of Dutch diplomats in response to Western sanctions aimed at illegal West Bank settlements, a move that signals a sharp escalation in the country's retaliatory measures.
The decision follows a series of sanctions imposed by Western governments that target the construction and expansion of settlements in the West Bank, which are widely regarded as illegal under international law.
Under the new decree, Dutch diplomats in Israel will no longer hold official diplomatic standing, effectively limiting their ability to carry out consular and diplomatic duties within the country.
Israel's action is part of a broader pattern of retaliatory measures against countries that have imposed punitive measures on the settlements, reflecting the government's stance on the ongoing dispute over the territory.
The revocation underscores the heightened tensions between Israel and Western nations over the status of the West Bank, a region that has been at the center of international diplomatic efforts for decades.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>
