Dutch secret service investigated far-right politician over Israel ties: report

Dutch media claims agency thought Geert Wilders might be influenced by Israeli officials

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Geert Wilders, leader of Dutch far-right Party for Freedom is calling on the Dutch parliament to hold a referendum on Dutch membership of the EU(PVV) "as soon as possible"
Geert Wilders, leader of Dutch far-right Party for Freedom is calling on the Dutch parliament to hold a referendum on Dutch membership of the EU(PVV) "as soon as possible"Koen van Weel (ANP/AFP/File)

The Dutch AIVD security service secretly investigated far-right politician Geert Wilders over "ties to Israel and their possible influence on his loyalty," Haaretz reports, citing an article published Friday in Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant.

The confidential investigation was conducted in 2009 and 2010, when Wilders was a member of parliament, according to the report. 

Wilders heads the anti-Islam PVV party, which according to a recent "poll of polls" by I&O Research, is once more leading the pack ahead of the March 15 general election.

According to the report, the AIVD was concerned about “the possibility that Geert Wilders is influenced by Israeli factors" with whom he had close ties. The report said Wilders had visited Israel in 2008, meeting with Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad in his office at the military's headquarters, as well as holding regular meetings with Israel's ambassador back in the Netherlands.

De Volkskrant based its report on interviews with 37 state employees, former secret agents, bodyguards, and others.

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