Travellers to Netherlands may face longer bag checks under settlement ban

Israel's Foreign Ministry has warned people travelling to the Netherlands that they may face luggage searches it describes as "prolonged and offensive". The warning was issued under the Netherlands' new ban on products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Golan Heights.

Key facts

• Who issued the warning: Israel's Foreign Ministry, in a notice from its consular services division.
• Who is affected: travellers to the Netherlands.
• What to expect: possible prolonged luggage searches.
• Why now: the Netherlands has banned products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Golan Heights.
• Reported incidents: the consular services division said it had recently received reports of such searches.

What is happening?

Israel's Foreign Ministry has told travellers that Dutch checks linked to the settlement products ban may result in extended searches of their luggage. In its notice, the ministry's consular services division said it had recently received reports of incidents of this kind.

The ministry characterised the searches as prolonged and offensive. No further detail was given about where the searches took place, how long they lasted or which travellers were affected.

Why is this happening?

The Netherlands has banned products originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Golan Heights. The Foreign Ministry's warning to travellers was issued in the context of that ban.

What this means for travellers

Travellers heading to the Netherlands should be aware that, according to Israel's Foreign Ministry, luggage checks linked to the settlement products ban have been reported and may be lengthy. The ministry's consular services division has flagged the issue in a notice to travellers.

No start date for the Dutch ban, no details of enforcement and no figures on the number of reported incidents have been given in the notice described.