Israel condemns European Union settlement labelling, summons envoy

Those who do not want to buy Israeli settlement goods probably already avoid them, and those that support the settlements may now more actively seek out settlement produce. However while the immediate economic impact is predicted to be minimal, there’s worry in that the logic behind the labeling could possibly be extended to the broader economy by concentrating on companies which have operations or affiliates within the contested areas, as many do.

That is around a fifth of the $200-$300 million worth of goods produced in settlements each year, but a drop in the ocean next to the $30 billion of goods and services traded between Israel and the European Union each year.

“Because of the latest EU decision, Israel is suspending its diplomatic dialogue with the EU in various forums which had been scheduled to take place in the coming weeks”, Israel’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday, adding that its diplomats would not attend a number of scheduled EU meetings after the EU ruling.

Israel was quick to denounce the new rules.

“I highly appreciate what the European Union countries did on the products of the Israeli colonial settlements”, he said in Saudi Arabia, where he was attending a summit of Arab and Latin American countries.

EU officials described the directive, which was approved by the EU executive, the European Commission, as in line with European policy, which does not recognize the occupied territories as part of Israel. UN Resolution 242 demands the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from the territories occupied in the conflict.

“We see that once again Israel is singled out for special treatment above all other nations of the world and this is clearly discriminatory and stands in stark contradistinction to the EU’s own mandate to be fair and free of prejudice”. He said he exports more than two-thirds of his wine, including about 35,000 bottles to Europe.

“It is for Palestinians and Israelis – not the Europeans – to determine future borders between them, not Europe”. A few 60 percent of the West Bank, including all Jewish settlements, is under full Israeli control, heavily constricting their hopes of developing an economy and building a state.“I highly appreciate what the European Union countries did on the products of the Israeli colonial settlements, ” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told a summit in Saudi Arabia. The last U.S.-brokered Israeli-Palestinian peace talks collapsed in 2014. In the past, he has said the continued settlement construction raises questions about Israel’s seriousness for peace.

“Product labeling will strengthen the radical elements advocating a boycott against Israel and denying Israel’s right to exist, contradicting positions that the European Union publicly opposes”, Nahshon said in a statement.

As for long-stalled peace negotiations, Herzog said he expects Netanyahu’s commitment to a two-state solution which was made in English at the White House to be turned into “deeds in Hebrew”.

On Tuesday, he raised the possibility of unspecified “unilateral” Israeli steps.

“It does not advance any political process between Israel and the Palestinians”. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon called it a “shameful step that grants terror a prize.”Avi Roeh, chairman of the Yesha settlers council, said “this attempt to isolate us or differentiate us from the rest of Israel wont succeed.” He said the biggest victims would be the estimated 80,000 Palestinians who risk losing their jobs if the businesses that employ them in the settlements are hurt. He declined to elaborate.

He said he wanted “to emphasize strongly that this is not a boycott”.

“If this is meant to be a wake-up call, it’s counterproductive”, Lapid told The Associated Press. “They just pushed back the possibility of negotiations and separation.”.

Casert reported from Brussels.