BICOM

Israeli leaders from both government and opposition yesterday voiced strong opposition to the European Union’s (EU) impending guidelines on the separate consumer labelling of West Bank goods, which are expected to be published within the coming week.

West Bank goods are already explicitly labelled separately from other Israeli goods for the benefit of EU customs officials, in order that they do not benefit from the free trade agreement between the EU and Israel. The impending guidelines would apply this to consumer labelling too. Although it remains unclear exactly whether the guidelines will constitute vague recommendations or binding instructions, Israeli leaders yesterday criticised the very concept of such regulations.

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely spoke to media on a visit to the Barkan Industrial Zone in the West Bank. She said she hopes that, “Our [European] friends will realize that at a time when terror is coming only from the Palestinian side, it is very clear this is not the way to promote coexistence.” Hotovely also told AFP that, “There are over 200 territorial disputes around the world … Europe is singling out Israel” through West Bank labelling. She also pointed out that many Palestinians in the West Bank rely on jobs in Israeli businesses in the region and that consequently, “When you do labelling you harm 10,000 Palestinian families and you do not do anything to the very strong economic system in Israel.”

Meanwhile, opposition leader, Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog met yesterday with the UK’s Ambassador to Israel David Quarrey and addressed the issue. Herzog told Quarrey that West Bank labelling “ensures only one thing … the perpetuation of hatred and conflict in the region.” He added, “It won’t contribute to the end of the conflict and will only inflict serious economic harm on tens of thousands of Palestinians.” Herzog reiterated his strong support for a two-state solution, but said “we won’t get there with measures like these.”