The measure requires that producers must explicitly label products that come from settlements built on land occupied by Israel if they are sold in the European Union (EU).
The interpretive notice of the new measures published by the EU today said: "The European Union, in line with international law, does not recognise Israel’s sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967, namely the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and does not consider them to be part of Israel’s territory, irrespective of their legal status under domestic Israeli law. The Union has made it clear that it will not recognise any changes to pre-1967 borders, other than those agreed by the parties to the Middle East Peace Process."
The interpretive notice also makes it clear that it is not a new law, rather it reflects the Commission's understanding of relevant EU legislation.
It also makes it clear that there are two kind of distinctions between products that should be labeled. mandatory and voluntary.
Mandatory indication of origin or labeling includes products such as fresh fruits, vegetables, wine, honey, olive oil, eggs, poultry and organic products as well as cosmetics.
Voluntary products applies, among other things, to pre-packaged foodstuffs and industrial products excluding cosmetics.
The notice makes it clear that labeling must be correct and not misleading. It adds that enforcement of this notice is the responsibility of individual states.
The move drew an angry response from the Israeli government, with the foreign ministry issuing a statement denouncing the EU measure.
The Israeli government had strongly lobbied European countries and leaders, arguing against the labelling of Israeli products.
In the statement, the Israeli foreign ministry called the EU's decision "exceptional" and "discriminatory".
Writing on his Facebook page, the Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz described the measure as "disguised anti-Semitism."
Israel has occupied the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem since the 1967 war.
Under international law, Israel is prohibited form building settlements in the occupied territories.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Dr Mustafa Bargouthi, a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), described the EU measure as an "important initial step that would open the door to boycott Israeli products made in the occupied territories".
"The EU decision sends the message that the Israeli occupation is illegitimate and all the byproducts of that occupation, including business and commerce, should also be delegitimised," he said.
'Settlements are illegitimate'
US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said on Tuesday that Israel should not be surprised by the EU decision to label priducts produced in the settlements.
He also stressed the US position that it "opposes any efforts to delegitimise the state of Israel".
At the same time, Toner affirmed that the US policy on the issue of Israeli settlements has not changed.
"We believe settlements are illegitimate and are harmful to prospects to peace for peace and to Israel's long-term security," he said.
The EU is Israel's largest trading partner, amounting to approximately $32bn in 2014.
Israel and the EU are parties to the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which took effect in 2000 and regulates the trade between them.
Israel is also part of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership (Euromed) agreement which include 16 European and Arab countries in the region.
The Euromed intends to foster economic integration between the countries in the Mediterranean region.
[aljazeera.com]
11/11/15
--
-
Related:
----
EU foreign policy chief: Document on Israel sanctions is 'hypothetical' and internal
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
No comments:
Post a Comment
Only News