Israel Matzav

UK to mark imports from Judea, Samaria and Golan

Keeping with their tradition of favoring the Arab side, 'our friends the Brits' announced on Thursday that all imports to the UK from Judea, Samaria and the Golan Heights must be marked as coming from those areas and not from Israel.

The British government advised all food chains in the UK to clearly mark any imported products made in Judea, Samaria, and the Golan Heights, Ynet learned Thursday.

The UK stressed that the move does not constitute a consumers' ban, but was put in place to help consumers, who are not interested in purchasing such products, make an informed decision.

How smug and self-righteous of them.

Israel's Foreign Ministry and the Yesha Council responded.

Israeli officials and leaders of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria criticized the British government Thursday evening for a recommendation by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), that food labels for products made in Judea and Samaria say either "Israeli settlement produce" or "Palestinian produce", according to the Guardian. DEFRA said that traders would be committing an offense if they declared produce from the area as "produce of Israel".

Spokesman Yigal Palmor of the Foreign Ministry said, "It looks like it is catering to the demands of those whose ultimate goal is the boycott of Israeli products." Chairman Dani Dayan of the Yesha Council, which represents the Jewish communities, said the decision was the "latest hostile step" from Britain. He added, "Products from our communities in Judea and Samaria should be treated as any other Israeli product." Israeli officials said they feared this was a slide towards a broader boycott of Israeli goods. It is a matter of concern."

There's only one way to respond to this: Since they are now going to be separately marked, Britain's Jews and others who sympathize with Israel should conduct a buycott of products from Judea, Samaria and the Golan Heights. Ask the Canadians how to do it.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:11 PM