Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) has announced it will ‘ignore’ Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' visit to the Netherlands.

Mr Wilders disapproves of Mr Abbas’ visit but said that “unfortunately we’re unable to prevent it.”He added that “Calling it a boycott would be overstating the case, but that’s what it boils down to.”

Mr Wilders said that President Abbas, who he characterised as a Holocaust denier, had no business visiting the queen and the cabinet. He pointed out that in the past Abbas had stated that not six but only one million Jews were killed by the Nazis during World War II. The Freedom Party leader said the Palestinian leader never offered an apology, nor retracted his words.

The orthodox Christian SGP party is also opposed to the visit and will not attend Thursday’s meeting. SGP leader Kees van der Staaij said he had no time because of the busy last week before the summer recess, but also “felt no urge” to attend. Both Geert Wilders and Kees van der Staaij pointed to documents published by Mr Abbas’ Fatah party which still include the destruction of the state of Israel as an objective.

Christian Union MP Joël Voordewind said he would also adopt a critical attitude, but would attend the closed meeting to ask President Abbas if he still advocates the destruction of the state of Israel and to find out why the Palestinian Authority rewards the next of kin of suicide terrorists. Mr Voordewind pointed out that the Palestinian Authority has officially renounced violence. He added that he would not consider meeting with Hamas, Fatah’s Islamist rival. Hamas is on the international list of terrorist movements.

(ghs/rk)

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