Nov. 17, 2008
Britain has warned the European Union of selling “illegal” goods produced in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria in an apparent bid to pressure Jerusalem to halt construction in the settlements.
I reported this in the upcoming December issue of Israel Today magazine. England has asked EU members to avoid buying goods produced in Israeli settlements, which are then entering Britain after being exempt from tariffs. This violates an Israel-EU trade agreement: Goods designated as having been produced in the “West Bank” could mislead consumers into thinking they are from Palestinians, England maintains. Jewish settlements in the West Bank are not kosher to the EU or UK.
Israeli officials believe this is an attempt by Britain to pressure Jerusalem to stop building or clear out Jewish settlements. Britain’s move follows consumer protests in The Netherlands last year when a major importer of organic produce promised to refrain from dealing in settlement-produced items. Also this year, the Dutch company Heineken, which has a partial ownership of Barkan Wineries, moved the last of the winery’s operations out of a West Bank industrial zone, under pressure from consumer groups and the Dutch government.
This week with British Foreign Minister David Miliband was here for a two-day visit aimed at advancing Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. His Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni called Britain’s stance "exaggerated."
Today, Miliband headed south to view the rockets from Gaza firsthand.
“I'm here today because Sderot has become the front line of Israel's security. It's very important that counties like mine and others show solidarity with the people of Sderot and that's what I'm doing today," Miliband said. "Israeli people need to know that the British people know of Sderot, and we know of the tragedy they are facing, and we stand with them."Just not their controversial products from the settlements.
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