Europe's Move to Label Israeli West Bank Settlement Products Strains Ties and Deepens Israel’s Isolation

EU move to label settlement products strains ties, deepens Israel’s isolation

November 11, 2015

Yahoo! News - The European Union’s decision Wednesday to start labeling Israeli products made in the West Bank delivered a resounding show of international disapproval over Israel’s expansion of Jewish settlements and raised the pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to renew peace efforts with the Palestinians.

Israel condemned the measure as unfair and discriminatory, but it appeared helpless to stop its growing isolation over the settlement issue and its treatment of Palestinians. Relations with the EU in particular have deteriorated in recent years due to disputes over the settlements.

The labeling of products of the Jewish state by the European Union brings back dark memories, Europe should be ashamed of itself. It took an immoral decision. … This will not advance peace; it will certainly not advance truth and justice. It’s wrong. - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

The economic impact of the decision is likely to be minimal, but the move is highly symbolic. Once implemented, European consumers will be able to read on the label of most products — including agricultural goods, olive oil, cosmetics and wines — that they were produced on Israeli settlements. Although such products will not be banned, Israel fears the labels will be a political stigma and could lead to a fuller boycott.

The EU decision came amid a two-month wave of violence that reared its head again Wednesday as dozens of Palestinians were injured during clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank on the anniversary of the death of their leader, Yasser Arafat.

I highly appreciate what the EU countries did on the products of the Israeli colonial settlements. - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

Palestinian meetings with London mayor off after boycott comments

November 11, 2015

AFP - London Mayor Boris Johnson's visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories hit a hitch Wednesday as he was called off meetings with Palestinians after offending supporters of a boycott of the Jewish state.

The mayor earlier this week dismissed those who support the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign, known by its BDS initials, as "corduroy-jacketed lefty academics", comments which caused anger on Palestinian social media.

A number of Palestinian groups then refused to meet him while he was also informed his comments had led to additional security risks if he were to visit the West Bank, Johnson's office said.

His meeting with Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah, however, went ahead as planned.

Inas Abu Shirbi of the Sharek Youth Forum, an organisation Johnson was due to visit, told LBC Radio in the UK they withdrew the invitation as his statement showed "he did not recognise the existence of Palestinians".

Johnson, who is on a week-long trade tour, said the comments were taken "out of context".

"The mayor is disappointed that comments he made opposing calls for a boycott of Israel have been taken out of context on social media, and then cited by organisers of events he was due to attend in Ramallah as a reason for cancellation," a statement from his office said.

"He was looking forward to hearing first hand from Palestinians and discussing their relationship with London."

Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, said the failure to visit Palestinian communities would mean he would not have the chance to learn about the effects of Israel's occupation.

"I think it is deeply unfortunate where it has come to a situation where he is not able to visit Palestinians in the West Bank apart from the prime minister," he told AFP.

"He would have had a chance to visit young Palestinians living under occupation."

The mayor, who is also a Conversative MP, has often found himself in controversial or embarrassing circumstances.

During a visit to Tokyo last month, he flattened a 10-year-old rugby fan while showing off his ball "skills" to a group of schoolchildren.

He is due to step down as mayor next summer after eight years and is seen as a potential candidate to become leader of Britain's Conservative party after Prime Minister David Cameron steps down.