Dutch government tells tourists in Israel not to get stoned… by ‘violent’ settlers

The Dutch government was accused of smearing “a whole section of society” after it issued travel advice that warned travellers of the risks of being stoned by “violent” Jewish settlers.

The Israeli Embassy in the Hague has resolved to take the Dutch government to task over the “unacceptable” comments which appeared on its website for the Palestinian territories last month, which also cautioned tourists against the risks of public transport and said visitors to the Gaza Strip risked “becoming a victim of an Israeli air attack”.

Referring to settlers in the West Bank, the government’s travel advice reads: “There are security risks for traveling all over the West Bank including east Jerusalem. Be alert when traveling there.

“Demonstrations and violent incidents occur regularly. Jewish colonists live in illegal West Bank settlements and organize demonstrations regularly around and on the road. These colonists are sometimes violent.

“At times, these colonists throw stones at Palestinians and international vehicles so be alert when traveling around settlements of Jewish colonists, especially in the hills around Nablus and Hebron”.

Tourists were also advised to “avoid demonstrations” by Palestinians.

The advice reads: “Palestinians demonstrate regularly against occupation in various places. These demonstrations sometimes involve violence.

“There are always Israeli soldiers present during demonstrations. Recently, there have been violent incidents in the border area between east and west Jerusalem. They are aimed at Israelis. Be alert in those areas and avoid public transportation.”