Israel denounces EU move to label settlement goods

As reported in 'The Japan News' : The Associated Press In this Sept. 7, 2009, file photo, an Israeli flag is seen in front of the West Bank Jewish settlement of Maaleh Adumim on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

BRUSSELS (AP) — Relations between the European Union and Israel took a dive on Wednesday after Israel derided a decision by the 28-nation bloc to label products made in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the EU has taken an “exceptional and discriminatory step” for “political reasons,” while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the EU should be “ashamed,” and accused the bloc of punishing “the side that is being attacked by terrorism.” He said “this will not advance peace; it will certainly not advance truth and justice.” The EU move, which came after months of procrastinating, underscores the bloc’s unhappiness over Israel’s continued expansion of settlements on territory that Palestinians seek for their future state. The EU is now seeking to differentiate between its relations with Israel and with the settlements, fearing that a continued status quo would never push the Israeli government into changing its settlement policies. Once the labeling is implemented, European consumers will be able to read on the label of most products if a piece of merchandise or goods — mostly fruit and vegetables — was produced in the Jewish settlements. Israel fears the labels will be a political stigma. EU Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis insisted the measure was “a technical issue, not a political stance.” He said the guidelines had to be taken after three member states — Britain, Belgium and Denmark — imposed special labeling on their own, forcing the EU to streamline measures throughout the 28 nations. “The EU does not support in any form a boycott or sanctions against Israel,” he said, insisting that Israeli products from within the internationally recognized borders still benefit from EU preferential tariff treatment.Speech