Israel denounces labeling
Israel denounces the effort by the EU Commission to have all products made in the West Bank settlements labeled as such before distribution and export. The Israeli government questions the legality of such a requirement. Israel’s ambassador to the EU:
[The initiative] is a European attempt to politically pressure Israel on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by using economic means of questionable legality. The labels are an attempt to de facto determine the boundaries of Israel while it is up to the parties involved to decide, and nothing good or constructive can come out of going down that road.
EU close to labeling Israeli goods
After a three-year delay, the European Commission plans to begin labeling Israeli products made in disputed areas of Palestine within the next several months. Officials of the Commission are at a final stage of creating the document that will lay out the guidelines for labeling. Spokesperson:
Labeling is an essential part of existing consumer policy, which the commission will help member states to implement uniformly through guidance on Israeli settlement products. The EU considers settlements in occupied territories illegal under international law.