Israel Matzav

Oh my: Even the 'Palestinians' have figured out that the new EU directive is bad for them

Give the 'Palestinian Authority' credit for a change: For once they understand their constituents' needs. Instead of gloating over the new European Union directive that would force Israel to either commit suicide or not sell to European markets, the 'Palestinian Authority' seems to understand that its constituents need jobs and that many of those jobs are being provided by Israeli companies (like SodaStream, pictured above) that operate in Judea and Samaria.

"For our part, we approached a number of [European] Union officials, in the [Palestinian] Authority and also in Israel, to try and prevent the decision or at least to keep it unofficial," said the official, who declined to give his name. "It's not just Israeli companies that are going to be hit economically, it's also going to be disastrous economically and socially for the Palestinian community."

According to the Palestinian official, the European move will freeze joint projects, force employers to stop hiring Palestinians to work on joint projects with Israelis and lead to widespread layoffs of Palestinians laborers working in Judea and Samaria industrial zones.

Sammer Darawsha, who works in a hothouse that is a part of a joint Israeli-Palestinian agricultural project funded by members of the EU and situated near the Halamish settlement, said the decision will "affect everyone, whether Jew or Palestinian. If they take away our livelihoods and food, exactly what kind of peace will be here?" 

...

According to the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute, the EU constitutes Israel's most lucrative trade zone, and is the destination for a third of all Israeli goods. Trade with the EU in 2012 amounted to $36.6 billion. Israel imported $22.4 billion worth of goods from the EU that same year.

A top manufacturer warned that "blending politics and business results in a bad mixture, we have had bitter experience with it in the past. There's a sense that Europe is trying to harm the freedom of trade illegitimately." 

"It must be understood that the Arab side is also going to be harmed by this directive. Indeed, a generous portion of the labor in Judea and Samaria is Palestinian," a veteran businessman said on Tuesday.

Don't bet on it. Until now, the Europeans have shown themselves to be totally obtuse.

Labels: BDS, East Jerusalem, European Union, Golan Heights, Jerusalem construction, Judea and Samaria, Judea and Samaria construction

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:46 PM