Dutch leader Geert Wilders wrapped up a brief but significant visit to Israel on Tuesday, during which he received the prestigious Jabotinsky Prize for Liberty and met with top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Wilders, whose Freedom Party recently emerged as the largest party in the Dutch parliament, reaffirmed his longtime support for Israel and visited strategic locations in the West Bank.
Wilders recalled volunteering in the West Bank during the 1980s in a post on X upon his arrival in Israel. He began Monday morning with a tour led by Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, which included a strategic observation point along the security barrier overlooking the Samaria hills. During the observation point stop, Wilders stated, "Settlement in Judea and Samaria is not just historical justice, it's Israel's bulletproof vest. Without settlement in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley, it would be impossible to maintain the State of Israel."
Great meeting today in Jerusalem with my friend Bibi @netanyahu. 💪 pic.twitter.com/azL0PBjveg
— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) December 9, 2024
He then traveled to Jerusalem for a series of diplomatic meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and Energy Minister Eli Cohen.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana presented Wilders with the Jabotinsky Prize for Liberty for his support of Israel during a ceremony held in the Knesset. Dagan, Ministers Amichai Chikli and Gila Gamliel, and other members of parliament attended the event.
During the ceremony, Wilders thanked his hosts for the award and said, "This is not the time to remain silent. This is the time to support Israel. If Israel falls to the forces of darkness, the West will be next."
"The main reason I am here is to show you that political leaders from Europe are not afraid to come here and say both here and in Europe that we will never abandon you and will always stand by your side. What drives the hatred for Israel? I fear it's the hatred of extreme Islamist fanatics. It's also the self-hatred of Western 'woke' individuals who no longer believe in fighting for truth." Wilders concluded his remarks in Hebrew, saying, "Thank you and Am Israel Chai."
Thank you my friend Speaker @AmirOhana and the Knesset for the most warm reception today in Jerusalem, #Israel. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/L0ii5SqPww
— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) December 9, 2024
Knesset Speaker Ohana, who presented Wilders with the award, said it was a fitting gesture for he "has consistently supported our right to live in security and defend ourselves, and clearly opposed the antisemitic violence sweeping Europe. He understands the threat that extreme Islamist and antisemitic elements pose not just to Israel, but to the free world as a whole. He confronted the lies spread by institutions like the International Criminal Court that distort justice and encourage terrorism. Geert brings the same optimism that Trump brings – but to Europe."
Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said at the event: "I thank a true friend and true partner of the State of Israel – Geert Wilders. Your support is an important reminder of our unity and deep solidarity; we are together. Israel is in the midst of a war between civilization and a 3,000-year-old ancient world. On October 7, terrorists murdered residents of kibbutzim and called them 'settlers,' despite them not living in Judea and Samaria. From their perspective, it doesn't matter – they're all Jews. I want to tell you something new – for them, European citizens are also settlers! We are not the big enemy, European citizens are the big enemy. After October 7, we know better than ever – we must stand together against the common enemy, Europe and Israel must fight together."
Earlier in his political career, Wilders had been dubbed "Europe's Trump" by various media outlets and political analysts due to his populist rhetoric and controversial positions on immigration and Islam.
