Nationality Dutch Role Author Residence The Hague, Netherlands Education Leiden University | Website (Dutch) Website Party Party for Freedom Name Wim Kortenoeven | |
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Full Name Robert Frank Willem Kortenoeven Born May 29, 1955 (age 68)
Voorburg, Netherlands ( 1955-05-29 ) Political party Party for Freedom (2010-2012)
Independent (2012) Alma mater Leiden University (MA, Political science) Occupation Politician, author, journalist | ||
Robert Frank Willem (Wim) Kortenoeven (born May 29, 1955 in Voorburg) is a Dutch author, journalist and former politician.
Kortenoeven engages in political developments in the Middle East, focusing on the Arab-Israeli conflict. He also writes about Jewish history. On these subjects he gives lectures and guest lectures and contributes to Israël-Aktueel, the monthly magazine of the Dutch foundation Christians for Israel (Dutch: 'Christenen voor Israël').
He is a supporter of the State of Israel as well as Judaism and strongly opposes Islam and Arab and other adversaries of Israel, like for instance Iran. He is director of the pro-Israel lobby organisation Netherlands-Israel Public Affairs Committee (NIPAC), a Dutch equivalent of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Kortenoeven studied political science at Leiden University and history (unfinished) at the Dutch Open University.
He worked twice in an Israeli kibbutz: in 1976 in kibbutz Nahshon and in 1981 in kibbutz Matzuva. In the meantime he worked at Holland International, a Dutch travel agency. In the 1980s he was active in the Dutch care sector. From 1988 to 1991 he was director of Dutchlink Sales Representation.
From 1991 to 2000 Kortenoeven was involved in journalism activities and project advisory, both in the Netherlands, the United States and Israel. From 2000 to 2010 he was an employee of CIDI, a Dutch centre providing (positive) information about Israel.
On June 17, 2010 he became a member of the Dutch House of Representatives for the Party for Freedom (Partij voor de Vrijheid). As an MP he focused on matters of foreign policy (Middle East, Russia and Asia) and the armed forces of the Netherlands.
Kortenoeven announced on July 3, 2012, in the wake of a press conference by Geert Wilders, that he had just left the PVV due to internal struggles. He did so together with fellow MP Marcial Hernandez. They formed the Kortenoeven/Hernandez Group, that was in Parliament until September 19, 2012 (after the general elections, in which they didn't take part).