Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Photo: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO.

JNS.org – Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte during a diplomatic visit to The Hague in the Netherlands on Tuesday.

Netanyahu and Rutte discussed several ways to improve bilateral relations, including an agreement that the Netherlands will help Israel improve water and gas supplies to Gaza, in spite of the conflict with terrorists groups.

“We have no battle, no qualms with the people of Gaza, only with the band of terrorist thugs who have taken them [hostage],” Netanyahu said at a joint press conference. “The first step is to improve the supply of energy and water to Gaza, including laying a gas pipeline.”

Netanyahu also reiterated the need for Europe to work together in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism and acknowledged that the Netherlands is doing its part.

“[I]f we don’t also band together to defeat militant Islam in other parts of the Middle East, more will die, and millions more will flee their homes. Where will they go? One place – Europe,” Netanyahu said. “So defeating militant Islam everywhere in the Middle East is critical for the security of our region, of Europe, of the world.”

Rutte said that along with having a frank exchange about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the two leaders also discussed business investment and innovation and the rise of antisemitism.