Israel's ambassador to the Netherlands: Ben Gvir and Smotrich said shocking things. I do not intend to defend them
Israel's ambassador to the Netherlands, Zvi Aviner Vapni, said in an interview with a Dutch newspaper that the statements of ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich are 'shocking and unacceptable' and that he does not intend to defend them. He called Jewish rioters in the West Bank 'thugs and terrorists' and said they belong in prison.
Israel's ambassador to the Netherlands, Zvi Aviner Vapni, gave an interview to the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad and sharply distanced himself from the statements of ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. According to him, 'they said things that I find shocking and unacceptable. I have no desire to defend them.' The ambassador was asked 17 questions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including specific references to Ben Gvir and Smotrich after the interviewer claimed that one called for starving two million residents of Gaza and the other called for killing dozens of Gazans every night. Vapni refused to represent their position. He also called Jewish rioters in the West Bank 'Jewish thugs and terrorists' and said that 'they all belong in prison,' adding that 80% of Israelis would agree with him. The Foreign Ministry has not yet responded. The interview comes after the Netherlands announced its withdrawal from Eurovision 2027 in protest of Israel's participation.