BDS Netherlands, through the law firm Jebbink Soeteman Advocaten, has filed a complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office against former Member of Parliament Roelof Bisschop (SGP). The reason for this is his purchase of Israeli wine on September 23, 2026, one day after the purchase ban under the Temporary Sanctions Decree on illegal settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories took effect. Bisschop stated that he deliberately purchased Israeli wine to demonstrate that the sanctions law is “trivial”. BDS Netherlands is asking the Public Prosecutor to launch a criminal investigation.
What happened?
On September 23, Bisschop posted a photo on X of two bottles of wine, with the caption, “Decided to pick some up after all. They’re still around, Israeli wines!” In the September 25 episode of Family7 and in an interview with the Nederlands Dagblad on October 5, he explained that he deliberately bought the wine to make a statement. His intention was to denounce the sanctions decision.
The wine that Bisschop purchased comes from the Teperberg Winery, which is on the United Nations blacklist and has vineyards in Mevo Horon, Gush Etzion, and the Samarian Mountains, among other places. Bisschop himself said he was aware that some of the vineyards are located in the restricted postal code area.
Why is BDS Netherlands filing a complaint?
Article 4 of the sanctions resolution prohibits the direct or indirect purchase of goods from illegal settlements. The decree is based on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice dated July 19, 2024, and on resolutions of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly. Bisschop believes that his purchase from existing stock is not a criminal offence. BDS Netherlands maintains that this reasoning is not supported by the sanctions resolution or its explanatory notes.
In its complaint, BDS Netherlands points out that, according to Bisschop’s own words, the violation was intentional. He has publicly expressed his position on the applicability of the sanction decision on various platforms and at various times. In doing so, he has indirectly encouraged others to continue purchasing Israeli wines or other goods.
The sanctions decision is an incomplete but nonetheless important step by the Netherlands toward fulfilling its obligations under international law not to cooperate in the maintenance of the illegal occupation. Anyone who, as a former Member of Parliament, publicly announces that they are deliberately testing the law must expect the Public Prosecutor to investigate whether that constitutes a criminal offence.
– Nils Brenkman, board member of BDS Netherlands