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Arthur M. Horwitz
Publisher / Executive Editor
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essay
F. Kevin Browett
Chief Operating Officer
kbrowett@renmedia.us
Europe's Labeling Plan Demonizes Israel
Editorial
F
Managing Editor: Jackie Headapohl
rom its timing to its merit, the
A CLOSER LOOK
It's disconcerting the E.U. labeling push
European Commission (E.C.) deci-
The E.U.-Israel free trade agreement
arose amid a wave of Palestinian-inspired
sion to require labeling of selected
excludes products from Jewish settle-
stabbing, shooting and car-ramming ter-
goods exported to Europe by producers
ments in the West Bank, from the Golan
rorist attacks against Israeli civilians and
Heights in northern Israel and from the
working from land "under Israeli occupa-
soldiers. While clearly a protest of Israel's
tion" is a political travesty.
Arab-dominated eastern sector of settlement policies, labeling unwittingly
helps legitimize the Palestinian bid to
The Nov. 11 decision to impose
Jerusalem.
labeling guidelines discriminates. M ill
The West Bank, part of Eretz
gain international recognition outside of
It isolates Israel for special label-
Yisrael, the biblical Land of Israel, direct bilateral negotiations with Israel.
ing despite "200 territorial dis-
is disputed territory subject to a
The E.U. shelved the guidelines in 2013
putes taking place today around
negotiated agreement between
at the request of the U.S., but resurrected
the world," according to the
Israel and recognized Palestinian
their processing once it was clear an
Israeli Foreign Ministry.
leadership. Israel maintains a
accord wasn't imminent.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry punctu-
What's more, the guidelines
military presence there to defend
reflect the spirit of the Boycott,
against
Palestinian
terror.
Jews
ates
that such labeling will hinder, not
Robert S klar
Divestment and Sanctions
have
a
fundamental
and
histori-
advance,
a two-state solution — a solu-
Contribut ing
movement against Israel. The
cal
claim
to
residing
in
the
West
tion
the
E.U.
supports. Labeling, argues
Editor
pro-Palestinian movement seeks
Bank — and their larger settle-
the ministry, "will strengthen the radical
to delegitimize the Israeli gov-
ments are sure to be part of any
elements who are pushing for boycotts
ernment and blame it for the Palestinian
final peace accord.
against Israel and who deny its right to
In 1980, Israel annexed the militarily
people's ills.
exist, positions which the E.U. claims it
The guidelines also jeopardize the frag-
strategic Golan Heights, which it seized
objects to. The latest move raises ques-
ile arrangement that enables thousands
from Syria in the 1967 war. Israel united
tions over the role the E.U. wishes to play,
of Palestinians to work in "Israeli settle-
Jerusalem, the ancestral capital of the
and may have consequences on relations
ment" jobs.
Jewish people, in the same war.
between Israel and the E.U."
The Brussels-based E.C. is the executive
The E.U., Israel's largest trade partner,
The move, and the stigma created by it,
arm of the European Union and 28 mem-
claims the "Israeli settlement" designation could well ignite a full-bore E.U. boycott
ber states. The E.U., driven by Europe's
is a technical change to inform European
of all Israeli goods.
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
anti-Semitic undercurrents, doesn't rec-
consumers of place of origin, as required
ognize Israeli control beyond the Jewish
by E.U. law. It insists the move won't
Netanyahu, invoking the effects of 1930s
state's borders before the Six-Day War of
impact European trade with Israel. West
Nazi Germany, put it back in September:
1967.
Bank settlement products account for less
"We have historical memory of what hap-
than 2 percent of Israel's $14 billion in
pened when Europe labeled Jewish prod-
exports to Europe each year, according to
ucts:' *
the Associated Press.
Israel's economy may
HISTORY :
not suffer by the export
Me.
WORLD
WAR 3
dropoff, but Palestinian
workers will. The West
FIRST THEY
TO BE A
Bank contains 14 Israeli
MADE
IT
SEW IN
industrial and agricultural
DANGEROUS
FRANCE
parks, including 800 facto-
ries and businesses employ-
ing 11,000 Palestinian
workers alongside 6,000
The European Parliament passed the
Israelis. Thousands more
Palestinians earn a living
labeling guidelines in September. They
cover agricultural goods, wine, honey,
via secondary services
olive oil and cosmetics when produced
provided to the Israeli fac-
in the West Bank, east Jerusalem or
tories, according to Beit
the Golan Heights — together home
Shemesh-based United
with Israel.
to 600,000 Jews. Labeling must specify
THEN THEY
whether Palestinians or Israelis did the
MADE IT
THE BIGGER PICTURE
actual work.
DANGEROUS
Even Israeli left-wingers like opposition Only Belgium, Denmark
leader Isaac Herzog have joined Prime
and the United Kingdom
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-
previously labeled "Israeli
wing government in denouncing the E.C.
settlement" goods.
Sanctions for ignoring
decision. President Barack Obama's sup-
port of the labeling underscores the com-
labeling are mandated
bative U.S. administration position that
although strict enforcement
the "Israel-occupied settlements" aren't
isn't likely, according to the
E.U.
part of Israel.
Jews have a
fundamental and
historical claim
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