Labour is a member of the ruling coalition, but Van Dam joins the opposition in criticising government policy on Israel and the Palestinians.

Lieberman, who heads the ultranationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party, has repeatedly made racist remarks about the Palestinians. Van Dam criticises Christian Democrat foreign minister Maxime Verhagen for being prepared to offer a welcome to the controversial Israeli minister, when he turned down an official visit from the Dalai Lama earlier this year.

The Labour member of parliament also equates talking to Lieberman with talking to the radical Palestinian group Hamas, a step the government refuses to take.

The other coalition parties, the Christian Democrats and the orthodox Christian CrhistenUnie, categorically reject the comparison. They say it is only logical that Verhagen should receive a democratically elected foreign counterpart. They also claim that since his election Lieberman has become more moderate.

Lieberman will be officially received by foreign minister Verhagen today in The Hague. Also scheduled are meetings with president of the lower house of parliament Gerdi Verbeet and with the members of the foreign affairs commission of the parliament.

The government information agency RVD says Lieberman and Verhagen will discuss the situation in the Middle East, including the stalled peace process with the Palestinians, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, human rights in the Palestinian Territories and Iran's nuclear programme.

The Israeli foreign ministry says Lieberman will also thank Verhagen for the Dutch support for Israel in the UN's human rights council. The council last month condemned Israel for war crimes committed during the Gaza offensive in December 2008-January 2009. The war in Gaza killed around 1,400 Palestinians, including hundreds of civilians. Thirteen Israelis were killed during the same period.