After long deliberation, the European Commission has adopted rules requiring products from Israel’s occupied territories be labeled as such on EU store shelves.
Proponents of the measure argued it was needed for harmonization of the EU’s non-recognition of Israel’s right to occupy the territories and that it was a compromise to avoid a complete boycott of Israeli goods and preserve preferential treatment of Israeli products in EU markets under an agreement signed in 1995. They said it would also give EU consumers more freedom of choice in their purchasing decisions.
Opponents have called it an anti-Israel initiative veiled as a pro-consumer initiative, an attack on Israeli statehood which comes at a critical time, as Israel faces renewed Palestinian violence. Some have compared the singling out of Israeli goods to laws requiring Jews to wear yellow Stars of David during the Holocaust.
The European Union does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights or East Jerusalem, and does not recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state, in line with the position held by many states.
The European Commission said country-of-origin labeling requirements in member-states required clarification vis-à-vis the occupied territories, and that labeling such goods as “made in Israel” was incorrect and misleading. It also distinguished between goods made by Palestinians in the occupied territories, and goods made in Israeli settlements in those territories. It therefore directed member-states to require a label to the effect of “made in Gaza (Israeli settlement)” be displayed on products requiring indication of country of origin. Goods made by Palestinians would simply have “made in Gaza” or “product from the Golan Heights” labels under the new EC interpretation/directive.
The new rules appear to apply only to non-recognized territories following the Six-Day War in 1967, and do not include West Jerusalem. A document issued by the EC states specifically they do apply to East Jerualem and Golan, territories which have been formally annexed to Israel under Israeli law.
The Israeli Jewish Congress issued the following response to the EC’s decision released on November 11:
EU Issues Discriminatory Guidelines Against State of Israel
Earlier today, the European Commission issued a set of guidelines to label Israeli products made in the ‘settlements’.
This is a very unfortunate and discriminatory step by the EU that singles out Israel and rewards Palestinian terror and BDS advocates, while only further damaging prospects of peace.
We enclose for your consideration some further information regarding the EU decision, as well as the response from Israel (where there has been near universal condemnation), including from the Prime Minister and Foreign Ministry.
Official Guidelines from the European Commission
Video message in response from the Prime Minister of Israel
“The labelling of products of the Jewish state by the European Union brings back dark memories. Europe should be ashamed of itself. It took an immoral decision. Of the hundreds of territorial conflicts around the world, it chose to single out Israel and Israel alone, while it’s fighting with its back against the wall against the wave of terror. The European Union is not going to hurt the Israeli economy. It’s strong enough to weather this, but it’s the Palestinian workers in Israeli enterprises in Judea and Samaria that will be hurt. This will not advance peace; it will certainly not advance truth and justice. It’s wrong. Europe should be ashamed of itself.”
Statement in response from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“Israel condemns the decision of the European Union to label Israeli products originating from areas that are under Israeli control since 1967. We regret that the EU has chosen, for political reasons, to take such an exceptional and discriminatory step, inspired by the boycott movement, particularly at this time, when Israel is confronting a wave of terrorism targeting any and all of its citizens.
“It is puzzling and even irritating that the EU chooses to apply a double standard concerning Israel, while ignoring that there are over 200 other territorial disputes worldwide, including those occurring within the EU or on its doorstep. The claim that this is a technical matter is cynical and baseless.
“Product labeling does not advance any political process between Israel and the Palestinians. The opposite is the case – it is bound to reinforce the PA’s refusal to conduct direct negotiations with Israel, negotiations that the EU claims to support. Product labeling will strengthen the radical elements advocating a boycott against Israel and denying Israel’s right to exist, contradicting positions that the EU publicly opposes. This recent step raises questions regarding the role that the EU aspires to play. It may also have implications for Israel-EU relations.”
The Israeli Jewish Congress
www.ijc.org.il