Dutch King: Don't touch the Jews

During the visit, the King called on what he termed the "silent majority" in the Netherlands to rise and defend the Jewish community, according to a report in De Volkskrant. "Don't touch them," Willem-Alexander said, drawing a sharp line between Dutch Jews and Israeli government policy. The King made clear that Jewish citizens of the Netherlands bear no responsibility for what happens in Israel and should not be held accountable for the government's decisions.

When one participant asked how the community could reach that silent majority, the king answered simply: "Keep talking."

Members of the community, some 300 families, shared with the King the difficult challenges and atmosphere of insecurity they have lived with since the war began. They described women afraid to order a taxi from home to synagogue, children forced to switch schools, and people choosing to hide their Magen David necklaces.

Sid Wagenfeld, 22, a community activist, thanked the king for the visit, which he said strengthened their sense of belonging to the Netherlands. "Jews are connected to Israel, but not to the Israeli government. That's a distinction many people don't see," he said.

The Dutch King, who also serves as a reserve pilot on commercial flights for the Dutch airline KLM, previously traveled to Israel to attend the International Holocaust Forum, piloting the aircraft himself.