Frans Timmermans, a former European Union official and current adviser to the Dutch king and government, has ignited controversy with comments comparing the reasoning of right-wing Israelis to that of Nazis. The remarks, made in an interview with Belgian newspaper De Morgen, have led to accusations of antisemitism from Jewish groups in the Netherlands.
Timmermans, who holds the honorary title of minister of state, stated that the ideology of right-wing Israelis is "We Jews can only survive if the Palestinians are gone." He drew a parallel to Nazi ideology, asserting, "That is exactly the same reasoning as that of the Nazis back then: ‘The German people, the Aryan race can only survive if the Jews are gone.’"
He further described the situation in the Middle East, saying, "an entire people is currently being exterminated. We watch and remain silent, while Palestinians are literally being driven into the sea and worse." Critics have accused Israel's actions in Gaza of constituting genocide, a claim disputed by Israel, the U.S., and the European Union.
The Central Jewish Board of the Netherlands (CJO) has formally requested that Prime Minister Rob Jetten distance the government from Timmermans' comments. In a letter to Jetten, the CJO urged Timmermans to step down from his advisory role, labeling the remarks "antisemitic." Chanan Hertzberger, chairman of the CJO, warned that silence from Jetten on the matter would deeply alienate the Jewish community and undermine Holocaust commemoration.
Esther Voet, editor-in-chief of the Dutch Jewish newspaper NIW, echoed these sentiments in an editorial. She recalled past statements by Timmermans, including one in 2015 where he identified "the new antisemitism is hiding behind anti-Zionism." Voet argued that Timmermans' current anti-Zionist stance unmasks his own antisemitism, particularly by equating Israel with Nazi Germany, a state that historically sought the annihilation of Jews.
Timmermans previously served as the first vice-president of the European Commission and was recognized by many European Jews for his public stance against antisemitism. He led the Labour Party (PvdA) and GreenLeft (GroenLinks) alliance before stepping down from that political leadership role. The honorary minister of state position he now holds lacks executive powers but involves advising the government and king on state matters.