Jordan summons Dutch ambassador over Wilders’ comments

Jordan has summoned the Dutch ambassador to explain social media comments by PVV leader Geert Wilders, in which he describes the Middle Eastern country as the “only true Palestinian state”.

The comment by the far right leader was a reaction to a declaration by the Knesset earlier this week opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan river.

The Jordanian foreign affairs ministry described Wilders’ message as a “racist position that imagines the possibility of resolving the Palestinian issue at Jordan’s expense”.

The ministry has called on the Dutch government to distance itself from Wilders’ comment, whom it describes as a right-wing extremist. Wilders himself is not part of the government and remains technically an MP.

The statement “contradicts the friendly relationship and mutual respect” between the Netherlands and Jordan, the statement on behalf of ambassador Sufyan Al-Qudah said. “The inflammatory statements made by this racist parliamentarian… reflect a culture of racist hatred that must be fought.”

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The PVV manifesto for the November elections also stated that Jordan is the “only real Palestinian state”.