Netherlands regrets Israel retaliation in settlements row

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The Netherlands said it regretted Israel's decision to revoke the diplomatic accreditation of Dutch officials based in the West Bank. The move is the latest retaliation amid Western pressure over Israeli settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The Netherlands said Monday it regretted Israel's decision to revoke accreditation of Dutch diplomats based in the West Bank, the latest retaliation by Israel to mounting Western pressure over settlements. Israel, which has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and exerts power over diplomats' entry into the Palestinian territory, on Monday ordered Dutch officials to surrender their diplomatic privileges. "I deeply regret this unnecessary decision," Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said.