BRUSSELS, Sept 19 (KUNA) -- The Dutch representative to the United Nations will not support a bid by Palestine to become a fully-fledged UN member this week, Radio Netherlands reported Monday.
Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal tried unsuccessfully this weekend to reach Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to try once more to convince him not to go forward with the bid.
The Netherlands has long been known as Israel's closest ally in Europe. Under current Prime Minister Mark Rutte's government that relationship has gotten even closer, said the radio.
It noted that Dutch Foreign Minister Rosenthal's wife is an Israeli citizen and that his parents were Holocaust survivors. (end) nk.sd KUNA 191832 Sep 11NNNN