Holland refuses entry to Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh
By: israelinsider staff and partners
Published: April 17, 2007
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has been spurned by the Dutch government, which has reportedly refused him a visa to enter Holland.
Haniyeh's office contacted the Dutch government to receive information about the documents necessary to obtain a visa for Ismail Haniyeh. A spokesman for the Dutch Foreign Ministry explained that the Palestinian PM wanted to attend a conference in Rotterdam in May on the Palestinians and Europe.
The spokesman said, "He will not be granted a visa, should he request one officially. Hamas is considered a terrorist organisation by the European Union.
"It is consistent not only to avoid contact with Hamas ministers but also not to let them come to the Netherlands or anywhere else in Europe and spread the message of Hamas," he added.
Reports in the Dutch media claim that Haniyeh was invited to be the key speaker at a conference organized by the Dutch-based group, Palestine Platform for Human Rights and Solidarity.
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